News

Early voting picks up

Muriel Hamilton, left, and Carol Bowen urge a vote for Amendment 1.

By Bill Moss, Published: April 23, 2012

More than 1,000 Henderson County voters turned out for the first two days of early voting last week and the pace seemed to be picking up on Monday, Henderson County Elections Director Beverly Cunningham said. Click here to view sample ballots

The early voting, which is popular in Henderson County, especially among retirees, has gone smoothly. No changes occurred in election in North Carolina last year, although Republican leaders tried to pass a voter ID bill and to reduce the number of early voting days.

Outside, two pro-Amendment 1 advocates, Carol Bowden and Muriel Hamilton, waved signs and handed out palm cards that urged voters "to preserve the definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman." They braved a cutting wind as a blackberry winter cold front sent daytime temperatures into the 40s.

Early voting is available at Flat Rock Village Hall, Fletcher Library and Etowah Library from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and at the Henderson County Elections Board at 75 E. Central St. (off Spartanburg Highway) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and from 8:30 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

Aside from Amendment 1, voters will make their choices in primaries for president, governor, lieutenant governor, Council of State offices, the 11th Congressional District and state legislative seats. Locally, voters are deciding a variety of beer and wine questions and making their choice in the District 2 and District 5 Henderson County Commission races.