RALEIGH, NC — James Yokeley resigned as Chair of the Surry County Board of Elections on Thursday morning, just hours after State Auditor Dave Boliek publicly demanded his immediate resignation following Yokeley’s recent arrest and ongoing investigation.
Yokeley submitted his resignation at approximately 11:44 AM, bringing a swift conclusion to a controversy that Boliek had warned could compromise election integrity in the county.
State Auditor Cites “Very Disturbing” Circumstances
Earlier Thursday, Boliek had issued a stern statement calling for Yokeley’s resignation, citing what he described as “very disturbing” circumstances surrounding the elections chair’s arrest. While specific details of the charges or investigation have not been publicly disclosed, Boliek argued that the situation created an unacceptable distraction for election operations.
“The arrest and investigation of the Surry County Board of Elections Chair is very disturbing,” Boliek said in his initial statement. “This matter distracts from election management in Surry County and must be addressed quickly and directly.”
Accountability and Ultimatum
The State Auditor had emphasized his office’s commitment to holding officials accountable, particularly those in positions critical to election administration. Boliek warned that Yokeley’s continued leadership would compromise the board’s effectiveness during what he characterized as a critical period for election operations.
“Our office is built on holding individuals accountable,” Boliek stated. “He needs to resign, and Surry County needs a new Board of Elections Chair.”
Boliek had issued a clear ultimatum, threatening to escalate the matter to state authorities if Yokeley refused to step down voluntarily. “If he doesn’t resign, I’ll be requesting the State Board take action today to remove him as Chair,” he said.
Swift Resolution
Following Yokeley’s resignation, State Auditor Boliek released a brief statement acknowledging the development:
“As I had called for, the Chair of the Surry County Board of Elections has resigned. With his resignation, the Surry County Board and State Board can now, without distraction, move forward with the process of appointing a replacement.”
Next Steps
With Yokeley’s resignation now official, attention turns to the appointment process for a new chair. Both the Surry County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections will need to coordinate on selecting a replacement to ensure continuity in election administration.
Neither Yokeley nor other representatives from the Surry County Board of Elections had responded to requests for comment regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest or the resignation decision.
The State Board of Elections has not indicated whether any additional actions will be taken in light of the investigation that prompted the resignation.
