As election season approaches, UNC students will no longer be able to vote early at an on-campus location.
Morehead Planetarium previously housed early voting for students and staff at UNC. But due to new limitations, suite 133-G in University Square off West Franklin Street will be used instead.
The decision to move the site off campus has caused contention, but officials say it is ultimately beyond their control.
“I wish no one would oppose it,” said Tracy Reams, the director for Orangy County Board of Elections.
“They had to convert the space we were using to accommodate classrooms, and when they could no longer accommodate us, we couldn’t have early voting there anymore.”
Linda Convissor, director of local relations at UNC, said when she and Erin Schuettpelz, director of state relations and communications at UNC, looked for places to replace the Morehead site, no other place on campus met the criteria.
“We looked for another site, but the University was not able to provide us with a place for early voting,” Reams said.
For a location to be considered, it has to be handicap accessible and available for the 2-to 3-week early voting period. It must also have adequate security, parking and hard-line internet access.
After the Board of Elections failed to acquire a campus location, they turned to town officials, who gave them access to the University Square site.