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Campaign road signs have popped up like spring flowers at intersections and roadsides, which means primary voting season is right around the corner.

 

Tuesday, May 17 is the day designated for North Carolina’s statewide 2022 primary election and residents have until Friday, April 22 to register if they want to vote in the primary. 

 

One-stop, in-person early voting runs April 28 through May 14 at 40 Courthouse St. in Columbus at the Board of Elections Office.

 

May 10 is the deadline to submit an absentee ballot request form for the primary, and May 17 is the last day for absentee ballots to be returned. 

 

Registered voters across the state can vote in the primary. However, voters affiliated with a political party will be given a ballot of candidates for their party. Unaffiliated voters may choose the ballot of candidates for any party primary.

 

The Republican ballot has nine races:

 

There are 14 contestants running for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Richard Burr who is retiring. They include: Marjorie K. Eastman, David Flaherty, Benjamin E. Griffiths, Kenneth Harper, Jr., Pat McCrory, Charles Kenneth Moss, Lichia Sibhatu, Debora Tshiovo, Mark Walker, Jen Banwart, Lee A. Brian, Leonard L. Bryant, Ted Budd and Drew Bulecza.

 

There are eight contestants for U.S. House of Representatives District 11, including incumbent Madison Cawthorn, Chuck Edwards, Rod Honeycutt, Wendy Marie-Limbaugh Nevarez, Bruce O’Connell, Kristie Sluder, Michele V. Woodhouse, and Matthew Burril. 

 

Victoria E. Prince, April C. Wood and Trey Allen are running for N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice – Seat 5.

 

Beth Freshwater Smith and Donna Stroud (incumbent) are running for N.C. Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 9.

 

Michael J. Stading and Charlton L. Allen are running for N.C. Court of Appeals Judge – Seat 11.

 

Jake Johnson (incumbent) and David Rogers are running for N.C. House of Representatives District 113.

 

Jason R. Hayes and Abe Hudson are running for N.C. District Court Judge District 29B – Seat 5. 

 

Mary Ann J. Hollocker and Andrew Murray (incumbent) are running for District Attorney District 42.

 

Daniel Elliott and Timothy Wright (incumbent) are running for Polk County Sheriff. 

 

The Democratic ballot has two races:

 

James L. Carr, Jr., Robert Colon, Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Constance (Lov) Johnson, Tobias LaGrone, B.K. Maginnis, Rett Newton, Marcus W. Williams, Greg Antoine, Cheri Beasley, and Chrelle Booker are running for Richard Burr’s U.S. Senate seat.

 

Jay Carey, Katie Dean, Marco Gutierrez, Bo Hess, Bynum M. Lunsford, and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara are running to unseat Madison Cawthorn in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

To become the party’s nominee, the candidate must win by at least 30 percent of the vote plus one. There may be a second primary if no candidate reaches the total necessary to become the nominee in a contest on the ballot. A second primary may be held on July 26.

In 2022 only, the law allows for voter registration between the primary and second primary. However, existing voters may not change their party affiliation between the first and second primaries.

For more information on how to register, visit ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register. To view your sample ballot, visit ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election. 

The general election will be held November 8.