May primary filing period to end Friday
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 21, 2010 12:42 PM
Friday at noon is the deadline for anyone planning to file for the May 4 primary election.
The polls will be open on May 4 from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. When voters arrive they will be asked to state their name, residence address and party registration.
Voters registered as Democrat will be issued a Democrat ballot, Republicans will be issued a Republican ballot, and unaffiliated voters will be issued a Democrat, Republican or a non-partisan ballot, based on their preference.
Non-partisan ballots will contain only the candidates running for non-partisan offices and any referenda that may be on the ballot.
Incumbents in the district and state partisan seats who are up for re-election include: District Attorney Branny Vickory; Sheriff Carey Winders; Clerk of Superior Court Pam Minshew; District Court Judge Elizabeth Heath; state Senator Don Davis, District 5; Senator David Rouzer, District 12; state Rep. Van Braxton, District 10; Rep. Efton Sager, District 11; and Rep. Larry Bell, District 21.
Incumbents who are up for re-election in the nonpartisan races Board of Education members are Dave Thomas, Districts 1 -- who has said he will not run again -- John Grantham, District 4; George Moye, District 5; and Rick Pridgen, District 6. Other nonpartisan incumbents up for re-election are District Court Judge Beth Heath and Soil and Water Board members Ronald Parks and Bryant Worley.
Additionally, U.S. Senator Richard Burr, Third District Congressman Walter Jones and First District Congress G.K. Butterfield are up for re-election.
Filing
The following candidates had filed as of Wednesday afternoon:
Board of Education: District 4, John Grantham (incumbent) and Rodney Lee Thornton; District 5, George Moye (incumbent) and Arnold Flowers; District 6, Rick Pridgen (incumbent)
District Attorney: Branny Vickory (D-incumbent)
Sheriff: Carey Winders (R-incumbent) and Glenn Barnes (D)
Clerk of Court: Pam Minshew (D-incumbent)
District Court Judge: Beth Heath (incumbent)
N.C. Senate District 5: Louis Pate (R)
N.C. Senate District 12: Jody McLeod (D); David Rouzer (R-incumbent)
N.C. House District 10: Van Braxton (D-incumbent); Stephen Laroque (R); Vance Patterson (R)
N.C. House District 11: Efton Sager (R-incumbent)
N.C. House District 21: Larry Bell (D-incumbent)
U.S. Senate: Marcus Williams, Ken Lewis and James Cunningham (all Democrats); Bradford Jones and Edward Burks (Republicans; and Michel Beitler (Libertarian)
U.S. House District 1: G.K. Butterfield (D-incumbent); and Ashley Woolard, Jerry Grimes and John Carter (all Republicans)
U.S. House District 3: Walter B. Jones (R-incumbent); Johnny Rouse (D)
The Wayne County Board of Elections website has a detailed voter registration search engine where voters may obtain all of their registration information, including maps to their polling site. In addition, sample ballots and candidate information will be posted as soon as it is made available for download.
One-Stop Early Voting
For one-stop early voting, people may go to the Wayne County Board of Elections office, 209 S. William St., on the following dates and times -- April 15-16, 19-23, 26-30 and May 1 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day.
New voters may complete a voter registration form and vote during this time.
Absentee Voting
First day to request absentee ballots will be March 5. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail is April 27 at 5 p.m. The deadline for returning absentee ballots to the Wayne County Board of Elections is May 3 at 5 p.m.
Election schedules
* April 9: Last day to register, change name/address or political affiliation.
* April 15: One-stop early voting begins.
* May 1: One-stop early voting ends at 1 p.m.
* May 4: Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
* May 4: Wayne County Board of Elections board meeting at 2 p.m. for absentee ballot tabulation. Absentee results will not be released until the polls close.
* May 4: Wayne County Board of Elections board meeting at 7:30 p.m. for transfer ballot tabulation.
* May 4: Unofficial election results at 7:30 p.m. until all precinct results are reported. (All election night results are considered unofficial until canvass is complete and the Wayne County Board of Elections certifies results.)
* May 10: Tentative date to review precinct tapes, provisional ballots, and conduct any recounts required by law. A public notice will be distributed upon approval by the Wayne County Board of Elections, confirming the date and time.
* May 11: Wayne County Board of Elections canvass at 11 a.m. Election results will be certified by the Wayne County Board of Elections.
A list of offices up for re-election can be found on the Wayne County Web site at www.waynegov.com/boe.
The site also has a detailed voter registration search engine where voters may obtain all of their registration information, including maps to their polling site. In addition, sample ballots and candidate information will be posted.
Voters are encouraged to contact the Wayne County Board of Elections if they have a question concerning their voter registration status, polling site location, or any other questions concerning access to voting.