Sample ballots set for primary
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 20, 2014 1:46 PM
Sample ballots for the May 6 primary are now available on the Wayne County Board of Elections' website.
Also, Monday was the first day that absentee ballots could be mailed out for the primary.
Changes to election laws that went into effect on Jan. 1 allow absentee ballot request forms to be downloaded from the Board of Elections' website.
As of Wednesday morning, nine requests had been made -- four civilian and five military.
The completed request forms may be mailed, faxed, emailed or delivered in person to the Board of Elections office no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the election.
For the May 6 primary that would be April 29 -- the final day that absentee ballots may be requested.
Proof of identification is required on the form and can either be a North Carolina driver's license number or the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number.
If neither is provided, then the person must submit a current and valid photo identification or a document that shows their name and residential address.
For example, that document could be a utility bill, bank statement or government document.
The new law requires that the person submitting the absentee ballot have it signed by either two witnesses or by one notary public.
The changes also allow mail-in ballots to be received at one-stop voting sites.
The law changed the deadline for submitting an absentee ballot as well.
In prior years, the deadline was 5 p.m. on the day prior to the election. Under the new law, it is now 5 p.m. on Election Day.
The exception remains for ballots that are postmarked by Election Day, and are received after that date to still be counted.
The Wayne County Board of Elections office is located at 209 S. William St. The phone number is 919-731-1411, the fax number is 919-731-1409, and the email is wayne.boe@ncsbe.gov.
To reach the website go to www.waynegov.com and under Dept (A-H) select Board of Elections. Links to the sample ballots and absentee ballot request forms are located on the homepage.