Philip D. Brown

Richmond County Daily Journal

Potential voters that have been putting off registering in Richmond County will miss the opportunity to be heard if they don’t visit the board of elections today.

Today at 5 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in the primary elections to be held on May 4.

“We’ve seen quite a bit of interest from voters in this year’s elections,” said Richmond County Board of Elections Director Connie Kelly.

In addition to 10 Democrats vying for four spots on November’s county commissioner ballot, this year’s election will mark the first time in 16 years there has been no incumbent in the race for county sheriff. There are four Democrats and two Republicans running for the county’s top elected law enforcement position.

“We’re seeing quite a bit of newly registered voters,” Kelly continued, “but we’re also seeing quite a few people switching their party affiliation so they can vote in the primary.”

Completed voter registrations must be either received by the county elections board or postmarked by today to be eligible to vote in the primary.

In addition, registered voters wishing to change their party affiliation or update their address should do so today.

According to North Carolina General Statutes, unaffiliated voters can vote in either the Republican or Democrat primaries, but voters who are registered to one of the two parties may only vote in that party’s primary.

Registered Libertarians will receive a non-partisan ballot, because there is no Libertarian primary this year.

Absentee ballots are available for registered voters to send in by mail. They must be requested either by the voter or the voter’s near relative or legal guardian. According to state election law, near relative is considered a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, step parent or step child.

If the voter requesting an absentee ballot is an unaffiliated voter, the request should indicate if the voter wishes to participate in a political party’s primary. Otherwise, the voter will receive a non-partisan ballot.

Early voting will begin on April 15 at 8 a.m. at the board of elections office on Hancock Street in Rockingham and end on May 1 at 1 p.m. Early voting is open to all registered voters.

Any questions about absentee voting, election day voting or other concerns should be directed to the county board of elections at (910) 997-8233.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.