NORTH CAROLINA -- The State Board of Elections is holding a rare Sunday meeting to finalize all early voting plans for North Carolina.

• A county board must have a unanimous decision of how many early voting sites it will open, and when they start
• 15 counties need the state to step in
• Early voting begins Oct. 17

By law, a county board must have a unanimous decision of how many early voting sites it will open, and when they start.

While 85 counties made those decisions, 15 counties needed the state to step in.

They’re debating what they believe will best serve local voters.

“We, in our infinite wisdom, are going to require them to spend an additional $40,000 to open up a duplicative site, that a majority of that board is telling us they don't need,” said John Lewis of NC State Board of Elections

“For me, seeing that we are eliminating the site that appears to be the primary early voting site for African American voters is not something I can vote for,” said Andy Pendry,NC State Board of Elections Chair

A new state law expanded the days available for early voting.

It also required all sites in a county to be open, at the same time.

Early voting begins on Oct. 17.​