News

Rebuck keeps her seat as elections board votes to 'move on'

An overflow crowd attended an emergency meeting of the Board Elections. [MATT MATTESON]

By Matt Matteson, Published: September 16, 2024

Republican Board of Elections member Linda Rebuck escaped censure, a reprimand or call for her resignation after an emergency meeting of the local board ended Monday with a unanimous vote to move on to the important tasks of running a major election.

“Everybody wants to be on the same page here,” Board Chair Clay Eddleman told an overflow crowd of more than 100 activists from both major political parties. He pointed out that board members are appointed by the Board of Elections, not the Henderson County Board of Commissioners.

“As private citizens, we absolutely have the right to free speech,” he added.

Eddleman clarified that political statements made by board members representing themselves as Henderson County Board of Election members may, however, be in violation of state election laws and may be grounds for removal. Such a removal, however, can only be made by the state board, not the county’s.

At issue was a 490-word email Rebuck sent to 24 state representatives and senators on Aug. 15 warning of "a concerted effort to turn Henderson County blue" through what she criticized as lax processes for voter verification and mail-in ballots.

The email found its way to the state Board of Elections office in Raleigh.

Karen Brinson Bell, the N.C. elections director, rebutted Rebuck’s assertions point by point in an Aug. 25 response. A Democratic appointee, Brinson Bell called two of Rebuck's assertions false, explained in detail safeguards in place under state and federal law to ensure voting roll integrity and admonished the local board member for a lack of neutrality.

“Given the partisan statements in the above, we remind you of the requirements of Article 4A of Chapter 163 of the North Carolina General Statutes” barring elections board members from making statements that favor one party over another.

Eddleman noted that Brinson Bell’s warning to Rebuck was picked up by the Raleigh News & Observer. The issue had been reviewed by the five state Board of Elections members plus the state board's general counsel, Paul Cox, and one other attorney.

“On Sept. 12, I had a conference call with attorney Cox,” Eddleman said. “I was informed that no law was in violation but it was right on the edge.”

Eddleman the next day called the emergency meeting of the county elections board so members could discuss the issue openly and transparently and determine if any action was required.

“I did not intend my remarks to be made public,” Rebuck said. “I wrote it on my private email and I never signed it as a board member.”

(Her opening line was: “I am a member of the Henderson County Board of Elections and have served on the Board for over 6 years.”)

Rebuck spoke about technical issues contained in her email such as overseas voter registration requirements that she believed were not following the law.

“We need to be true to the Constitution,” she said, drawing applause from the audience. “My point was to get the attention of the legislators.”
Several other board members spoke after Rebuck but none cast doubt on her motive or integrity. Eddleman ended the discussion saying, “we may have significant differences but we have more in common,” regarding the cohesion on the Board. “I have never seen any bias by any member,” he said.
Eddleman entertained a motion to “put this issue behind us,” which was made and adopted unanimously.