Early voting opens Feb. 13

Published 6:19 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2020

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With North Carolina’s primary date moved up to Tuesday, Mar. 3 this year, early voting will also get an early start. The 2020 primary will kick off with One-Stop early voting on Thursday, Feb. 13 and will continue through Saturday, Feb. 29.

Voters in Hertford County will have two places to cast their ballot early: the Board of Elections Office (418 Everette Street, Suite A, Ahoskie) and Murfree Center (201 E. Broad Street, Murfreesboro).

Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28; and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.

For more information, call the Hertford County Board of Elections Office at 252-358-7812.

In Northampton County, registered voters will be able to vote early at the J.W. Faison Administrative Building (9495 NC Hwy 305, Jackson), Cool Spring Community Center (101 Cherry Street, Gaston), and The Roanoke Center (409 N. Main Street, Rich Square).

The sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28; and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.

For more information, call the Northampton County Board of Elections Office at 252-534-5681.

Bertie County voters can cast their ballots early at either the Board of Elections Office (210 W. Watson Street, Windsor) or Powellsville Town Hall (106 E. Main Street, Powellsville).

The Board of Elections site will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28; and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.

The Powellsville site will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28; and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29.

For more information, call the Bertie County Board of Elections at 252-794-5306.

For voters who choose not to cast their ballots early, traditional polling places will be open in each county on Primary Day from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 3.

Registered voters casting ballots at either a One-Stop site or on Primary Day are not required to present identification. However, if a person is registering to vote for the first time at a One-Stop site, they need to present documentation of their identity and address.

Voters in all Roanoke-Chowan area counties will have the opportunity to vote for candidates in the following primary races (by their choice of political party): President of the United States, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 1 (Republican ballot only), NC Governor, NC Lt. Governor, NC Attorney General (Republican ballot only), NC Auditor, NC Commissioner of Agriculture (Democrat ballot only), NC Commissioner of Insurance (Republican ballot only), NC Commissioner of Labor (Republican ballot only), NC Secretary of State (Republican ballot only), NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, NC Treasurer (Democrat ballot only), and NC District Court Judge District 6 Seat 3 (Democrat ballot only).

Ballots for Bertie voters will also include the primary race for Board of Commissioners District 1 (Democrat ballot only). They will have the opportunity to favor or reject the addition of a local option sales and use tax in the amount of one-fourth of one penny.

In Hertford County, other primary races will include NC House of Representatives District 5 (Democrat ballot only) and Board of Commissioners District 1 (Democrat ballot only).

Northampton County ballots will also include primary races for NC House of Representatives District 27 (Democrat ballot only), Board of Commissioners District 1 (Democrat ballot only), and Board of Commissioners District 2 (Democrat ballot only).

All Northampton County voters can cast their vote in the nonpartisan Board of Education race. There are nine candidates running for four seats.

Curbside voting is available for those unable to physically enter a polling place.

Absentee voting by mail is also available. Requests for an absentee ballot must be made on a form, which is available at the county’s Board of Elections office or on the State Board of Elections website (www.ncsbe.gov).

Completed absentee ballots are required to be turned in by the person casting the votes (or by a voter’s near relative, by a verifiable legal guardian, or by a Multi-partisan Assistance Team) by 5 pm on Tuesday, March 3 to the county’s Board of Elections office. Those ballots can also be mailed (postmarked on or before March 3).

Absentee voting requires the voter to complete an application on the return envelope that must be witnessed by two qualified persons or a notary public.