Computers stumble a bit during early primary voting
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 8, 2012 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Precinct 19 Judge Beatrice Whitaker stands outside First African Baptist Church on Harris Street to help curbside voters this morning. The polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
When the polls for today's primary opened at 6:30 a.m., the four voters on hand at the old Carver High School gym in Mount Olive had to wait a few minutes while computers that have replaced the voter roll books were adjusted.
It is the first time that all 30 of the county's voting precincts have used the new computer system and some initial set-up problems were experienced, but all precincts were up and running at 6:30 a.m., Wayne County Board of Elections Director Vickie Reed said.
The computers were first used in 10 municipal elections in 2011, she said. Using them for the primary will provide experience for poll workers in advance of the November election, she said.
Ms. Reed spent the early part of her morning visiting the polls.
"What I have seen at the six sites, they all seem to be pretty busy," she said. "The turnout looks good."
The polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m. today as voters cast ballots in a number of county, state and national races. Election results will be available at the Wayne County Board of Elections website.
Voters in Goldsboro, Mount Olive and Fremont also are making selections for their respective town boards and mayors. Those nonpartisan elections were postponed from last November because of the statewide redistricting.
The winners in Mount Olive and Fremont will win the seats outright.
In Goldsboro one of the competitors from each race will be eliminated in the primary, leaving two to challenge for the respective seats during an election to be held either June 26 or July 17.
Perhaps the issue that has attracted the most attention is a proposed amendment to the state constitution that "marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."
The options are to vote "for" or "against" the amendment.
County races include:
* Register of Deeds Lois Mooring, a Democrat, of Goldsboro is seeking a third term in office, while Constance Coram of Goldsboro is trying for the second time to unseat her.
* Wayne County Board of Education, nonpartisan:
Incumbent at-large member Eddie Radford of Goldsboro is being challenged by Len Henderson of Dudley who currently represents District 2.
District 2: Dwight Cannon and Ven Faulk, both of Dudley are battling for the nomination.
Board member Thelma Smith is facing Charles Wright Sr. in District 3.
* Wayne County Board of Commissioners:
District 1: Republican Commissioner Ray Mayo faces challenges from James Beckwith and Jeff Pearsall, both of Pikeville. There is no Democratic challenger on the November ballot.
District 5: Bill Pate of Goldsboro and Jeff Jennings of Pikeville are seeking the Republican nomination. The winner will face Democratic Commissioner Bud Gray in November.
* District court:
Judge Lonnie Carraway of Snow Hill is being opposed by Ericka James and Annette Turik.
* Legislative:
Senate District 5: Two names are on the ballot in the Democratic primary -- former senator Don Davis of Snow Hill and Tony Moore of Winterville. However, the state Board of Elections ruled that Moore is ineligible because he had not lived in the district long enough to run for the seat and has said votes for Moore will not be counted. There is no Republican opposition in November.
House District 4: Republican Rep. Jimmy Dixon of Mount Olive is defending his District 4 seat against Rep. Efton Sager of Goldsboro. Sager is the current District 11 representative. Redistricting put him in District 4. The winner will face Democrat Delores Kennedy of Mount Olive and Libertarian Kevin Hayes of Mount Olive in November.
District 10: Republican Rep. Stephen LaRoque of Kinston is facing a challenge from John Bell IV of Goldsboro in District 10. The winner will face Democrat James Hardison of Kinston in November.
* Congress:
District 1: Democratic First District Congressman G.K. Butterfield of Wilson is being challenged by Daniel-Lynn Whittace of Henderson. The winner will face Republican Peter Dilauro of Weldon and Libertarian Darryl Holloman of Goldsboro in the November general election.
District 13: Democrats Bernard Holliday of Creedmoor and Charles Malone are vying for the District 13 House office. Three Republicans have filed for that seat -- George Holding of Raleigh, William Randall of Wake Forest and Paul Coble of Raleigh.