COLUMBUS – Residents of Columbus, Saluda and Tryon have until Friday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. to register to vote for the 2017 municipal election.

Residents can register to vote at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus.

This year’s election has races for all three towns for council seats and two races for mayor.

Town of Columbus

Incumbent Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre will run unopposed but there are six candidates to fill three council seats. Incumbents Mark Phillips and Richard Hall are being challenged by Ernie Kan, Brent Jackson, Marshall “Buddy” Watkins and Robert Williamson. Josh Denton’s seat is up for re-election, but he chose not to run this year.

City of Saluda

There will be races for both mayor and two open council seats in Saluda. Incumbent Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden is being challenged by Heath Potter. For council, incumbents Carolyn Ashburn and Mark Oxtoby are being challenged by Paul Marion and Teddy Stevens.

Town of Tryon

Tryon will also have races for its mayor, council and a special council seat that is for a two-year term to fill a vacancy left by former commissioner Roy Miller, who resigned in June.

Incumbent Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples is being challenged by Jerry Thomas. Incumbent commissioner Bill Ingham is also running along with commissioner Bill Crowell, who was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2015. Crowell and Ingham are being challenged by Helen Ringus.

The other open seat in Tryon includes Chrelle Booker running, who was appointed to fill the seat until the election, as well as John Fowler who filed to run for the unexpired seat.

The Bulletin recently asked candidates in each town questions, which have been running in the paper since last week.

Forums will also be held in each town, with each including introductions of the candidates as well as questions.

The Town of Columbus has a forum on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Columbus Town Hall.

Tryon’s candidate forum will be on Monday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Roseland Community Center.

Saluda’s forum will be on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. at the Saluda Senior Center.

Early voting begins next Thursday, Oct. 19 and ends on Saturday, Nov. 4. Early voting can be done on those dates at the Polk County Board of Elections Office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 7 with voting done at each town’s polling place from 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m.