Election officials in Bertie, Hertford and Northampton counties are gearing up for municipal elections in 2005.

A total of 23 local municipalities will be choosing leadership during November elections for mayor and members of the town board.

According to Hertford County Elections Supervisor Sheila Fleetwood, filing for elections will begin at 12 noon July 1 and will continue through August 5 at 12 noon.

During that time frame, those wishing to seek municipal office will be allowed to file at the respective county board of elections.

Northampton County Elections Supervisor Tonya Pitts said the non-partisan vote will be held November 8, 2005 with a deadline for voter registration set at October 14.

Absentee voting by mail will begin on October 7 with one-stop absentee voting being slated for October 20. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is one week before the elections with no excuse required. The ballot must be received by mail, commercial courier service or in person by 5 p.m. on the day before the election.

While a majority of the municipalities in the Roanoke-Chowan area will settle balloting on November 8, a pair of Bertie County towns could hold a primary earlier in the election season.

According to Bertie County Elections Supervisor Shirlie Davenport, Windsor and Powellsville hold primaries depending on the number of candidates. Primaries and the general election are both non-partisan.

Powellsville has three town board seats up for election in November, so if more than six candidates file, there will be a primary October 11. Windsor has two seats up and will hold a primary if more than four candidates file.

The following list will show what offices will be on the ballot for each town in the Roanoke-Chowan region.

* Ahoskie – mayor and three town board seats;

* Askewville – mayor and three town board seats;

* Aulander – mayor and five town board seats;

* Cofield – mayor and five town board seats;

* Colerain – mayor and five town board seats;

* Como – mayor and four town board seats;

* Conway – mayor and five town board seats;

* Garysburg – mayor and five town board seats;

* Gaston – mayor and five town board seats;

* Harrellsville – mayor and five town board seats;

* Jackson – three town board seats;

* Kelford -mayor and five town board seats;

* Lasker – mayor and three town board seats;

* Lewiston Woodville – mayor and five town board seats;

* Murfreesboro – mayor and five town board seats;

* Powellsville – mayor and three town board seats;

* Rich Square – mayor and five town board seats;

* Roxobel – mayor and four town board seats;

* Seaboard – mayor and three town board seats;

* Severn – mayor and five town board seats;

* Windsor – mayor and two town board seats;

* Winton – mayor and five town board seats; and

* Woodland – mayor and four town board seats.