Early voting begins Oct. 20

by Leah Justice
leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Elections are gearing up for this November with early voting starting in just three weeks.

Polk County voters will choose several candidates this year, including for U.S. President, Congress, state offices, judges and three county commissioners.

Polk voters will also choose whether county commissioners will all receive four-year terms instead of the current staggered two and four-year terms.

A referendum will be included on this year’s ballot asking voters whether to alter the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ structure.

Voters will choose yes or no on the question of, “shall the structure of the board of commissioners be altered to change from a mix of staggered two-year and four-year terms of office to staggered four-year terms of office.”

Currently, three commissioners are elected every two years, with the two highest vote getters receiving four-year terms and the third commissioner receiving a two-year term.

If the referendum passes by a majority vote, three commissioners would run for re-election beginning in 2018. Then in 2020, two commissioners would run, with all winners receiving four-year terms.

The majority of the board of commissioners decided to put the referendum on this year’s ballot earlier this year.

Commissioner Michael Gage put the item on the agenda saying it takes time for a board to get things accomplished. In 2013 the board considered asking state legislation to make the change but decided to leave the structure as is. At the time, 91 of the state’s 100 counties had staggered four-year terms.

Gage said in February running for elections is expensive and if candidates had to run every four years instead of every two years someone with more meager means could run for county commissioner.

If the referendum passes, it would mean that a new majority couldn’t be voted in every two years. The current election has three commissioner seats open, which could mean a new majority on the five-member board. On the years that only two commissioners are up for re-election, depending on the board, it could mean that the current majority stays in office.

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting will run from Thursday, Oct. 20-Saturday, Nov. 5 in three locations, including the Polk County Board of Elections Office, the Mill Spring Fire Department and the Green Creek Fire Department.

Other deadlines and dates include that voter registration ends on Friday, Oct. 14 and the last day to request absentee ballots is Tuesday, Nov. 1.

After the voter ID law was repealed, presenting a photo ID will no longer be a requirement this year. Voters will be required to state their name and residential address at check-in.

Absentee by mail voting is currently open and voters may request an absentee by mail ballot by completing a N.C. State Absentee Request form. Forms are available at the board of elections office in Columbus as well online at ncsbe.gov. Anyone needing an absentee request form mailed to them can call the Polk County Board of Elections Office at 828-894-8181.

Residents are urged to register by the Oct. 14, 5 p.m. deadline but residents may also register and vote the same day during onestop early voting. Residents will not be able to register to vote on Election Day.

Any voters who have moved and not updated their address can do so at the board of elections office by Oct. 14. Those residents can also do updates during early voting.

Voters can check their voter registration at ncsbe.gov by selecting “voter lookup” from the web tool menu.

Sample ballots for this year’s election can be viewed at the board of election office as well as online at polknc.org under the board of elections department.

Election dates:

Friday, Oct. 14 5 p.m. Voter registration deadline

Thursday, Oct. 20 8 a.m. Onestop Early Voting begins

Tuesday, Nov. 1 5 p.m. Last day to request Absentee by Mail ballot

Saturday, Nov. 5 1 p.m. Onestop Early Voting ends

Tuesday, Nov. 8 5 p.m.  Civilian Absentee by Mail return deadline

Tuesday, Nov. 8 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.    Election Day

Thursday, Nov. 17 5 p.m. Military and Overseas Absentee by Mail return deadline

Friday, Nov. 18 11 a.m. County Canvass