Early voting to begin this week
By Steve Herring
Published in News on February 28, 2016 1:45 AM
Wayne County voters are being encouraged to take advantage of early one-stop voting to avoid what are expected to be long lines during the March 15 presidential primary that could create a record turnout.
Wayne County Elections Director Dane Beavers also is reminding voters to mark both sides of their ballots including the $2 billion bond issue that is on the back side of most ballots and any congressional races.
While it will be the first time that voters will be required to furnish a photo ID, Beavers said everyone who goes to the polls will be given the opportunity to vote.
Same-day registration and voting will be allowed during one-stop only, he said.
"Anybody can vote in any one-stop site," Beavers said. "We have a very wide schedule that includes Saturday and Sunday. That is kind of unique. Some counties are not providing Sunday voting, but we are here. It is limited hours, but we will be open that first Saturday and Sunday and then the last Saturday until 1 o'clock.
"Voter ID, this will be the first election that we have used voter ID. But most people, just bring your driver's license. The address doesn't have to match. Mainly, as long as you are a registered voter on the system, you will be allowed to cast a ballot. Even if you are not a voter, you can register and vote the same day during early voting. All I need is a document that shows your current address in Wayne County."
People can bring an electric bill, a government paycheck, phone bill or anything else that has their current address on it, and they will be able to register and vote the same day during early voting only, Beavers said.
"So we are giving a lot of opportunities to vote," he said. "We are encouraging everybody to come and vote. We are not going to turn anybody away.
"If you show up to cast a ballot in one of my early-voting sites, I promise you will be given the opportunity to cast a ballot -- whether it is a regular ballot or a provisional ballot -- no one will be turned away without being given the opportunity to vote."
Changes in the state's U.S. House of Representatives districts have "really shaken things up" in those races, he said. The state Legislature made those changes earlier in the month to comply with a court order to redraw district maps.
Wayne County had been split between House District 1, represented by Democrat G.K. Butterfield of Wilson, and District 13, represented by Republican George Holding of Raleigh.
It is now completely in District 7 that is represented by Republican David Rouzer.
Along with drawing up new district lines, the Legislature eliminated any runoff elections that would have been held in May.
They would have been the runoff for the spring primaries, Beavers said.
Instead a special congressional election will be held June 7.
There is no primary for Holding, but there is a Democratic primary between John P. McNeill and Ron Sanyal that will still show up on local ballots.
Butterfield is unopposed in the primary, but will face a challenge from Libertarian C.L. Cooke in the November general election
Rouzer is facing a challenge from Mark D. Otto in the June primary. The winner will face Democrat J. Wesley Casteen in November
"Obviously, we have the ballots printed the way the maps were (originally) drawn, so basically, what we are telling everybody is to go out and vote early so you don't have to wait in line," Beavers said. "Vote your entire ballot including all of the congressional races that may or may not appear on your ballot. Then let us (elections officials) figure out which ones will count and which ones won't count.
"Then come June 7, we will have a special election as long as nothing changes. There are still some issues in front of the judges now that determine whether or not they accept the maps the way they were presented. If they do take the maps the way they were presented, we will have a special (congressional) election on June 7."
Having the county in one district makes things simpler, but at the same time "shakes up" things for the candidates who have already been campaigning, Beavers said.
"Remember these are double-sided ballots we are voting," he said. "There is a bond issue that ends up on the back of most of the ballots. So be sure that you vote front and back.
Beavers said he is expecting a heavy voter turnout for both one-stop and on election day.
"A lot of other states have had problems running out of ballots," Beavers said. "We are prepping for that (heavy turnout). I think the historical number is around a 30 percent average. I am thinking we will probably hit at least 40 percent and maybe more. So we are preparing for our turnout."
There are approximately 72,000 registered voters in the county, meaning that 40,000 could cast ballots, he said.
"It could happen," he said.
"You know we have Super Tuesday (when several states hold their primaries on the same day) on the week before we vote. That could have some affect also. There are a lot of states that vote the week before we do.
"You could have some election turnout affected by things that happen right before because you could actually have somebody with enough delegates to pretty much be declared by the time we vote. But you never know, and you have to be prepared for anything."