Orange County Elections Director Tracy Reams says no absentee ballots were in the Orange County GOP Headquarters when the facility suffered extensive damage after being firebombed.

Reams says she spoke with Orange County Republican Chair Dan Ashley shortly after the incident Sunday.

“He has stated there were no voted absentee ballots there,” said Reams. “Also, my board chair, Cathy Knight, has stated to me there were no absentee ballots there.”

There have been conflicting reports over whether ballots were found in the aftermath of last weekend’s firebombing at the GOP headquarters, which left the facility “a total loss,” according to Ashley.

As it turns out, there were ballots inside the facility, but they were unmarked sample ballots.”

Reams says it was a case of miscommunication.

“It was my understanding that a statement was made and misunderstood,” said Reams. “The person who made the statement was referring to sample ballots.”

Reams notes it is a violation of election laws for anyone to take possession of voted absentee ballot unless it’s a near relative.

“If someone were to present themselves at the Board of Elections office with a voted absentee ballot, we’re going to ask them the relationship to that voter,” said Reams. “If it’s anybody but a near relative, then we would not accept that voted ballot.”

If early voting registration forms are any indication, this election may have a record turnout.

“We’ve had a record number of early registration forms that we’ve processed over the last two months,” said Reams. “That includes new registrations and changes of information. We’ve had an extremely large amount of registration forms that we’ve had to enter.”

Early voting started Thursday morning in Carrboro and Hillsborough with long lines in both locations.

“We opened at 9AM and there was already a line at 8:45,” said Reams. “It’s been a steady traffic here at the Board of Elections office. At Carrboro, they’re extremely busy.”

There are five early voting sites open in Orange County: the Board of Elections office in Hillsborough; the Carrboro Town Hall; the Chapel of the Cross Church in Chapel Hill; the Efland Ruritan Club and the Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill.

Early voting ends on Saturday, November 5th at 1 PM.