The time is drawing near.

With the 2010 General Election, held on Nov. 2, now less than one month away, those of legal age wishing to take part in selecting local, state and federal leaders now have less than five days in which to register to vote.

Roanoke-Chowan area residents, ages 18 and over, not currently registered have until Friday, Oct. 8 to turn in a voter application form. Those forms can be hand-delivered to the Board of Elections office in their county of residence or mailed to that office (mailings must be postmarked on or before Oct. 8).

Also, a voter who has moved since the last election must notify their Board of Elections office of that change 25 days prior to the date of this election (Nov. 2).

Those already registered to vote need not to re-register.

Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot by mail.  Requests must be made in person, by a near relative or in writing to the Board of Elections office within their county of residence. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26. Deadline to request absentee ballot for sickness/disability is 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1.

One-stop voting begins in the local area on Thursday, Oct. 14. That process will be held at the Board of Elections office in each county (in the R-C area, those offices are located in Winton, Windsor, Jackson and Gatesville). One-stop voting locations are also offered at two satellite locations (Conway and Gaston) in Northampton County; call 534-5681 for more details).

In most all cases, one-stop voting will be offered weekdays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Additionally, one-stop voting will be held at all locations until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.

Persons wishing to register and vote after the Oct. 8 deadline may appear in person at a one-stop voting site, complete the voter registration application form, provide proof of residence and vote the same day.

On Election Day (Nov. 2), polling places throughout the Roanoke-Chowan area will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Most all ballots will include races for Sheriff, County Commissioner, Board of Education, US Senate, US House of Representatives, NC Senate, NC House of Representatives, District Attorney, Clerk of Court, Superior Court Judge, District Court Judge, NC Supreme Court Associate Justice, NC Court of Appeals Judge and Soil & Water Conservation District.

Also listed on this year’s ballot is a referendum regarding an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution where voters will decide whether or not a person convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff.

For more information about voter registration, one-stop voting, absentee balloting or the Nov. 2 General Election, call the Board of Elections office in your county:

Bertie: 794-5306

Gates: 357-1780

Hertford: 358-7812

Northampton: 534-5681