Today, Sam Hayes started his tenure as Executive Director of the NC State Board of Elections.
Hayes was appointed by the State Board on May 7 and replaces former Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, whose term expired on May 15.
An attorney from Kernersville, Hayes practiced law in Washington, D.C., before returning to North Carolina to serve as general counsel of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of State Treasurer. Most recently, Hayes was general counsel for the Office of the North Carolina Speaker of the House. In that role, Hayes worked on the development of election policy and the defense of election law in the courts.
State Board member Stacy “Four” Eggers gave the following statement:
“Sam Hayes brings a wealth of election and government experience to this role. He knows North Carolina and has a firm grip on election administration in our state. I look forward to working alongside him.”
Sam Hayes gave the following statement:
“I’d like to thank the State Board for this appointment – it’s an honor. Managing North Carolina’s elections is no easy task, but I have confidence in the capabilities of this office. By building on the foundation of counting votes and following the law, we can be of great service to the people of North Carolina.”