by John H Snowden, III
Publisher
The Currituck County Board of Elections, like most of the 100 county boards in North Carolina, recently saw new members appointed by the State Board of Elections, and new chairs appointed by the State Auditor. These appointments are for two-year terms that began on June 26, 2025, and will run through July 19, 2027.
On June 24, 2025, the State Board of Elections unanimously appointed Edward Ponton (D), Dorothy “Dot” Johnson (D), Nancy Bass (R), and Steven Metcalfe (R) as members of the Currituck County Board of Elections for the 2025-2027 term. State Auditor Dave Boliek selected Curtis Ballance. (R) to serve as Chair of the Currituck County Board of Elections for the 2025-2027 term.
The newly appointed Board of Elections will meet on July 22, 2025, to be sworn-in and conduct other business matters. The meeting will take place at the Currituck County Board of Elections office, located at 2795 Caratoke Hwy., Currituck, NC, 29729.
This recent round of appointments follows a significant legal and political shift in North Carolina. For over a century, the Governor held the power to appoint the majority of members to the State Board of Elections and the chairs of county boards. However, a state law passed in December 2024 and recently upheld by appellate courts shifted this appointment power from the Democratic Governor, Josh Stein, to the Republican State Auditor, Dave Boliek. This change has led to a shift in the political balance of the State Board of Elections and, consequently, the county boards.
The State Board of Elections appoints four members to each county board (two Democrats and two Republicans), typically from recommendations made by the state chairs of the respective political parties. The State Auditor then appoints the chair of each county board. While most county boards now have a full slate of appointed members, a few counties still have vacancies that are expected to be filled at a future State Board meeting in July.
Prior to the new appointments, the Currituck County Board of Elections consisted of the following fmembers who are registered voters in the county: Edward Ponton (Chair), Eldon L. Miller III (Secretary), Dorothy “Dot” Johnson, Alice Malesky. This board is responsible for conducting federal, state, and county elections, registering voters, tallying results, appointing and training precinct officials, and maintaining voter records.
