William A. McNutt III explains why voting in person protects election integrity

William A. McNutt III always wanted to be a lawyer. At 84, he’s learned election law and the Constitution to tell people that following the law means avoiding political biases, even in a non-partisan County Board of Elections.

As a Republican appointed by the State of North Carolina to the Harnett County Board of Elections in 2023, who followed the Election and Related Laws and Rules of North Carolina, even when it meant “siding” with the Democrats, McNutt was pushed out of office by fellow Republicans.

“I went to Democrats churches to encourage people to vote,” McNutt said about why his Republican peers pushed him out.

When the county commissioners and school board, some of whom dually serve on both boards, wanted elections removed from the schools, McNutt said, “No. The law says we can use state and county-funded buildings, and there are no other suitable buildings except one.”

He cited State Law 163.129 and 163.132.5 on using those state-funded buildings and the cooperation of boards. School boards and county boards are to abide by the Board of Elections’ laws.

That one building was the Benhaven Community Center & Gym, 2815 Olivia Road, Sanford.

“The 17-days of early voting is a waste of taxpayers’ money. They [county] can add a board of elections’ building to a school construction plan and devote it to elections,” McNutt said about the board asking for their own facility for over six years.

Harnett’s Board of Elections recently saw controversy after the chair and county manager spoke about a pay raise for the elections board and one elections’ board member protested, saying she was not included in a discussion prior to the conversation and then she used inflammatory language against the chair at a public commissioners’ meeting.

The procedure for pay raises is for the HC BOE to submit a proposed budget to the County Manager/Commissioners for their approval.

The elections board is autonomous, and it can submit its budget, but the county has the final say because it holds the purse strings.

McNutt’s respect for law formed over 40 years as a court reporter in federal, state and county courts across America.

He was the owner of Copperstate Reporting Service in Arizona for 25 years and New Laws, LLC, a legislative representative service.

“I had a skill set for 280 words per minute,” McNutt said about recording each person in the courtroom verbatim.

Before McNutt’s term on the Harnett Board of Elections, he was the GOP Elections Integrity Chairman for three years.

He helped develop the computer program, SEIRS, that aids poll observers in reporting suspect activity to prevent fraud. “The security set forth in the Multipartisan Assistance Teams law, Chapter 16, Sections 0101-0105, were eviscerated by U.S. District Judge Terrance W. Boyle’s ruling on July 11, 2022, in a Disability Rights North Carolina lawsuit filed in September 2021,” McNutt said.

McNutt’s actions dictate his affinity for detail, transparency and fairness.

“There are over 40 organizations harvesting votes in North Carolina,” McNutt said, and added that the chain of custody was broken when “trained” election workers go to nursing homes.

A federal judge lifted restrictions on helping assisted-living residents with voting.

James D. Peterson, a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, was appointed by President Barack Obama, which makes him generally considered to be aligned (though federal judges nominally do not run with party labels) with more Democratic-leaning judicial appointments.

Peterson’s July 2022 federal court order allows absentee voters with disabilities to receive help from any person they choose, with limits: witnesses must be at least 18 and not candidates, unless specifically requested in a care facility. Voters in hospitals or nursing homes may seek help from staff, elected officials, party officeholders or candidates, though use of a Special Voting Deputy or MAT team is optional. However, absentee voters who do not need disability-related assistance may not be helped by facility staff, elected officials, political party officers, campaign managers or treasurers.

A National Institute of Health study revealed 53% of assisted-living residents had an incapacity for health care decision-making, using operational definitions including mental/physical impairment and difficulty communicating decisions.

That said, the big question is, “Are 53% of those ‘assisted’ votes manipulated, coerced, and outright fraud?”

“A problem is aggressive advocates for both parties harvest ballots,” McNutt said.

The electoral process is not perfect, but it is there, and every vote counts.

Do it. Vote. Your vote counts.

Sept. 11, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10155259