Primary Election Day will take place in Boone March 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and early voting begins Feb. 12 and will continue until Feb. 28.
The primary elections are when voters select which nominees they want to move into the general election from their political party. Voters will receive the ballot that corresponds to their registered political party; those who are registered as unaffiliated will get a choice of which party’s ballot they wish to vote on.
Positions appearing on the ballot in this upcoming election are the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice, N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Superior and District Court Judge, N.C. House and Senate and Watauga County offices. The list of candidates for all positions can be found on the Watauga County Board of Elections website.
The polling places for early voting are the Watauga County Administration Building, Blowing Rock American Legion Building, Deep Gap Fire Department, Meat Camp Fire Department, Plemmons Student Union on App State’s campus and the Western Watauga Community Center.
Unlike a regular voting day, one may vote during the early period at any of the polling places. All early voting sites are open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the exception of February 28 when sites close at 3 p.m.
Voters who choose to cast their vote on March 3 must vote at their assigned polling place, which can be found, along with sample ballots, through the North Carolina Voter Search.
(Noah Williford)
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Feb. 17 by 5 p.m. These ballots must be received in office via mail by March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
To ensure voters are registered to vote before election day, they can search their name in the Voter Search.
When voters arrive at their designated polling place, they will be asked to show a form of identification. Voters without a valid form of identification can receive one for free from the Watauga County Board of Elections.
Those without a free form of ID can visit the Watauga County board of elections building and provide their name, social security number and date of birth. A photo will be taken and they will have a form of ID to use on election day.