Early voting began Thursday at 8 a.m. and by 2:30 p.m. the board counted over 300 votes, and said they were busy.
Early voting will continue until Oct. 30, and will be conducted at the Richmond County Elections Office on Hancock Street in Rockingham, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 30.
Same day voter registration will be available during early voting, when voters may register and cast a ballot during the same visit. For same day registration, citizens must bring current and valid proof of residence, such as photo identification, government document, utility bill or an invoice letter.
Some new features on the 2010 ballot include instant runoff voting to determine three appellate court judges. The ballot allows voters to record their first, second and third choices, then the first choices are tallied and unofficially reported on election night. If a candidate has more than half of the first choice votes, they are certified as the winner, but if no candidate receives that majority, the second and third choices will be used to tabulate the winner.
On the ballot for U.S. Senate is Democrat Elaine Marshall facing GOP incumbent Richard Burr and Libertarian Michael Beitler. Incumbent Larry Kissell faces Republican Harold Johnson and Libertarian Thomas Hill in the race for U.S. House of Representatives; District 8 veteran Bill Purcell faces Republican P. Jason Phibbs for N.C. State Senate. For N.C. House of Representatives, District 66, Richmond County Democrat Ken Goodman faces James Haywood Parsons. For Richmond County Board of Commissioners, voters may select four out of five running; Democrats Don M. Bryant, Pam Dillman, Jimmy L. Maske, Thad Ussery and Republican.
Ben Moss. Democrat Kathy C. Gainey is running unopposed for Clerk of Superior Court.
Democrat James (Clem) Clemmons faces Republican Doug Brown for Sheriff.
Dawn Kurry can be reached at dkurry@yourdailyjournal.com or by calling 997-3111 ext. 15.
There will be a correction in tomorrow's print version that states that the sheriff's race is between Republican Doug Brown and Democrat James (Clem) Clemmons.
Rick Bacon
publiser