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fter enduring such a long season of campaigning, NC voters get to cast ballots in the primaries on Tuesday March 15. Oriental voters can do so that day from 6:30a-7:30p at the Station 19 fire station on Straight Rd.

Voters needn’t wait and may choose to vote now. The early voting period is currently underway – weekdays 8a-5p and Saturday March 12 8a-1p – at the Pamlico Board of Elections office in the Courthouse in Bayboro.

Whether voting early or on the 15th, those heading to the voting places shouldn’t come empty-handed, thanks to a change in NC voting law.

New Voting Laws: Some In Place, Others On Hold

The one big change between this primary election and last November’s election day is that in order to cast a ballot now, a NC voter will first have to show a valid photo ID. That law was passed a few years ago by the Republican majority in the NC General Assembly and has survived a court challenge.

Though referred to as the Voter ID law, that legislation made other changes to the voting laws, changes that civil rights groups say were geared to tamp down voting among minorities and Democratic voting strength. Some of those changes are on hold after a judge issued an injunction.

As a result of the injunction, those who did not register to vote by the 30-days-before-the-election deadline, can still vote – if they apply to register and vote at the Board of Elections office during the early voting period, which ends Saturday at 1p. (Registration on Election Day is not – and never was – allowed.)

Primarily Primaries

The races are primarily primaries – from the Presidential, and Congressional to the County Commission District 5 race. That GOP primary contest pits incumbent Kenny Heath against challenger Angie Propst to determine who will represent the district that stretches from the other side of the Oriental bridge to Minnesott and Arapahoe. No Democrat has declared to run in that race.

School Board Election

There is also one contested Board of election race for the school district covering the Oriental, Merritt, Whortonsville area. That race is between Gwen Gibbs and Kari Forrest Hammond. As it is a non-partisan contest, all voters may take part.

If you are registered with a party, that is the party primary in which you may vote. Voters who are Unaffiliated may choose to vote in any party’s primary, or none at all.
Click here for list of all candidates. Questions: contact the Elections office – 745-4821.

Posted Tuesday March 8, 2016 by Melinda Penkava