Early voting for the General Election is coming up in two weeks and will be taking place at several different locations in Richmond County.
Starting Oct. 18, voters can cast their ballot at the Richmond County Cooperative Extension Meeting Room, located at 123 Caroline St., Rockingham. On Thursday and Friday of the first week of early voting, polls open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Saturday polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Sunday polls open at 2 p.m. and close at 5 p.m.
Richmond County Board of Elections Director Connie Kelly said early voting is a good time to register and vote on the same day. Until Oct. 12, voters can register or change information that needs correcting or updating, such as address changes or changes to last names.
“Of course it’s important to participate in this election since it’s a presidential election but all elections are important whether it’s for a local board or the president,” said Kelly. “We should all take part and choose those who would best represent us. The volume of work is greater during a presidential election and it’s more stressful but it’s no more important than voting on city leaders. It’s important to have a voice in government.”
The second week of early voting, Oct. 22 - 27, Monday through Friday polls open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Saturday polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Voters can also cast ballots at Richmond Community College’s Cole Auditorium in Hamlet on Oct. 22-24, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The third week of early voting, Oct. 29- Nov. 3, ballots can be cast at three different locations; the Cooperative Extension meeting room, Cole Auditorium and Ellerbe Town Hall. At the Cooperative Extension during the third week of early voting, Monday through Friday polls open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. and on Saturday polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 1 p.m. During the third week of early voting at Cole Auditorium, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday polls open at 9 a.m. and close at 2 p.m., while Tuesday and Thursday polls open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. and Saturday polls are open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. At Ellerbe Town Hall, Monday through Friday polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. and on Saturday polls will open at 10 a.m. and close at 1 p.m.
Hilda Pemberton, chair of the Richmond County Board of Elections, spoke about why she urges voters to the polls this election.
“It’s really important to vote because our lives depend on the direction of the country, like what programs and services will be available to us,” said Pemberton. “This is one of the real true democracies on this earth and it requires us to have input.”
There are 14 precincts in the county, and come General Election Day on Nov. 6, some voters will be heading to two new precincts. Precinct 3, Rockingham #3 is new and will be located at the Roberdell United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1304 Roberdell Road, Rockingham. The second new precinct is Precinct 6, Wolf Pit #3, which is at Cordova School, 194 Church St., Cordova.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
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