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lection Day, Tuesday November 3 will determine who sits on Oriental’s Town Board for the next two years. 7 candidates are in the running for Town Commissioner. But Tuesday isn’t the only opportunity to vote.

Voters may cast their ballots now, during the early voting period which began a week ago and is now winding down – 9-5 today and Friday, 9-1 Saturday. Oriental is the only town offering early voting which takes place at the elections office at the county courthouse.

In the first 5 days of early voting for Oriental’s elections this year, 59 ballots have been cast. (as of 5p on Wednesday October 28)

Elections Supervisor Lisa Bennett says that two years ago, 120 Oriental voters voted early. But that was under the old policy of a 2 week and 2 day early voting period. Under changes the NC Legislature made to the voting laws, the early voting period shrank.

Registering To Vote Still Possible

Some of those changes in voting opportunities, made by the Republican-controlled General Assembly have been challenged in the courts. Among them: curtaling voter registering during the early voting period.

Lisa Bennett says that is under appeal and that at least in this election, a person may still register to vote then and then vote during the early voting period.

To register, she says, bring some ID showing that you have had an inside-town-limits-of-Oriental address – a utility bill is good – since at least October 3, 2015.

You will have to cast your ballot at that time. As has been the case in the past, you cannot register during early voting and then cast your ballot on election day. Nor can you register on election day and vote then.

Early voting hours remaining: 9a-5p Thursday-Friday Oct 29-30 9a-1p Saturday Oct 31

Still Undecided?

Seven candidates are in the running for the five town commissioner seats. Voters may choose as many as 5 and as few as one. For those who’ve not decided who to vote for, perhaps this — the TownDock questionnaire with candidates’ responses – may help.

On Election Day, all voting takes place at the Station 19 Firehouse on Straight Road from 6:30a-7a;30p.

Posted Thursday October 29, 2015 by Melinda Penkava