Politics

Early voting starts Thursday; here are sample ballots

By Lightning Reports, Published: February 10, 2024

One-stop early voting for the March 5 primary starts Thursday and runs through March 2.

The Henderson County Board of Elections, 75 E. Central St., is the only early voting site for the March 5 primary. Early voting starts Thursday, Feb. 15, and closes Saturday, March 2. Hours are 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 2.  Polls are open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5.

Voters will be asked to show a valid photo ID when they go to cast their ballots. Most voters who have a valid driver’s license will need to show it, but those who don’t can show other acceptable IDs, such as a free photo ID from their county board of elections or a no-fee ID card from the NCDMV, Carolina Public Press reported.

Other valid forms of photo IDs can be used for voting, such as a U.S. passport or U.S. passport card, driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state or U.S. territory, a college or university student ID approved by the Board or a state or local government charter school employee ID approved by the Board.

All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID, according to the Board. Voters who cannot provide a photo ID at the polls can vote by filling out an ID exception form with their provisional ballot. Certain exceptions are permitted for those who need to fill out the ID exception form. The form is also available to absentee-by-mail voters who cannot provide a photocopy of an acceptable ID with their ballots. 

Here are deadlines voters need to know for the March 5 primary election:

• Absentee voting by mail begins: Friday, Jan. 19.
• Voter registration and party change deadline: Friday, Feb. 9.
• Early voting begins: Thursday, Feb. 15.
• Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27.
• Early voting ends: 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2.
• Last day to return an absentee ballot by mail: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5.
• Primary election: 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5.
• County canvass: 11 a.m. Friday, March 15.

Here are the candidates for Congress, Board of Commissioners, N.C. General Assembly and District Court.

March 5 primary

• 11th Congressional District, Chuck Edwards, R
• 11th Congressional District, Christian Reagan, R

• County Commissioner District 2, Daniel Andreotta, R
• County Commissioner District 2, Sheila Franklin, R
• County Commissioner District 5, Jay Egolf, R
• County Commissioner District 5, David Harold Hill, R

• School Board, Amy Lynn Holt, R
• School Board, Robert Bridges, R
• School Board, Michael Absher, R

• School Board, Kathy G. Revis, R

• School Board, Tae Brown, R
• School Board, Beth Campbell, R

Nov. 5 general election

• Flat Rock Mayor, Anne Guerard Coletta
• Flat Rock District 1, Thomas F. Carpenter
• Flat Rock District 3, Cheryl Stuller

• Laurel Park Mayor, Carey O'Cain
• Laurel Park Town Council, George Banta
• Laurel Park Town Council, Travis Bonnema

• County Commissioner District 2, Erik Weber, D

• Hendersonville City Council, Jennifer Hensley
• Hendersonville City Council, Lyndsey N. Simpson
• Hendersonville City Council, DJ Harrington
• Hendersonville City Council (unexpired term), Lynne Elizabeth Williams
• Hendersonville City Council (unexpired term),Colby Coren
• Hendersonville City Council (unexpired term), Gina Baxter

• Fletcher Town Council District 2, Keith Reed
• Fletcher Town Council District 3, James Player

• Mills River Town Council at large, Jeff Moore
• Mills River Town Council at large, Tiffany Councill
• Mills River Town Council at large, Jeff Young
• Mills River Town Council at large, Jim Foster
• Mills River Town Council at large, Brian Kimball

• School Board, Mary Ellen Kustin, D

• School Board, Leslie Carey, D

• School Board, Crystal Cauley, D
• School Board, Rhonda Mountain D

• NC Senate District 48, Timothy Moffitt, R
• NC Senate District 48, Chris Walters, D

• NC House District 113, Jake Johnson, R
• NC House District 113, Michelle Antalec, D

• NC House District 117, Jennifer Capps Balkcom, R
• NC House District 117, Steve Martinez, D

• District Court Judge Seat 1, James Marshall, R
• District Court Judge Seat 2, Gene Johnson, R

• District Court Judge Seat 3, Monica Jean Gillett, R

• District Court Judge Seat 4, Kim Gasperson Justice, R

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Carolina Public Press contributed.