Appalachian Student Union Could Get Another Early Voting Polling Place

Another precinct could be coming to a disputed voting site in Boone. Last year's site barely opened in time for the start of early voting.

The Boone City Council has approved an additional early voting precinct at the Plemmons Student Union on the campus of Appalachian State University.  

The student union precinct was controversial during last year's election. The Republican-led county board of elections said the site wasn't needed because there were others close by.

But others argued the students needed a place to vote. The dispute went through three courts before it was approved by the state Supreme Court just before the election's early voting started.

It proved popular, with more than 400 people voting in there within the first six hours it was open.

The city council's request for a second precinct in the student union must be approved by the county board of elections. The measure is expected to be on the board's August 11 agenda.