The Beaufort County Board of Elections, during its meeting Tuesday, unanimously selected the early voting schedule for the Nov. 8 general election.

After receiving input from three people who attended the meeting, the board selected this option: extended office hours at the Board of Elections office, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27 through Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 through Nov. 5, and from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5. Three satellite offices (Aurora, Belhaven, and Chocowinity) would be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 2-4 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5, totaling 198.5 hours.

Board Chairman Jay McRoy said the board considered having the satellite sites open at different times and on different days so the same poll workers could operate the sites without the board having to use three different crews to man the sites. That hope disappeared after the board researched election law.

“The law says we have to have all the sites open at the same time,” McRoy said.

That requirement means the Board of Elections will have to spend more money to staff the three satellite sites because three separate crews of about five people will be needed, according to Kellie Harris Hopkins, the county’s elections director. “Satellite sites are expensive,” she said.

During a primary or general election, the county spends about $23,000 just to staff polling places, she said.

McRoy said the board’s schedule selection was the best option of three considered. That option provides the “best access” to the polls because the four early voting sites — the board’s office and three satellite locations — make it easier for voters who work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to participate in the early voting period. The early voting locations would not be open Sundays during the early voting period, but that option is allowed under state law.

The other options considered by the board included the following:

• extended office hours at the Board of Elections office, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 27, Oct. 28 and Oct. 31 through Nov. 4, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5. Three satellite offices (Aurora, Belhaven, and Chocowinity) open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1-4 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5, totaling 210 hours;

• normal office hours at the Board of Elections office, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 27 through Nov. 4, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5. Three satellite offices (Aurora, Belhaven, and Chocowinity) open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1-4 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5, totaling 200 hours.

State law requires the board to provide early voting for at least 195 hours during the early voting period.