Residents who usually sit out the primaries and wait to vote in November’s general election may want to rethink their game plan. Primary voters may likely determine the most of outcomes in Clay County’s two local races.
The March 3 primary is only six weeks away and the county is unusually quiet on the political front. Not much speculation about which of the nine candidates will take the three seats on the county commission board or which two of the three school board candidates will make it through.
One reason? With the exception of Robert Tyson who is running as a Constitution candidate, all the political candidates on the local level are wearing the same jersey — GOP red. Tyson will automatically appear on the general election ballot in November as he has no contenders in the primary.
Commission candidates are incumbents’ Rob Peck, Randy Nichols and Clay Logan and contenders John Hindsman, James Watkins, Ron Cowart, Broadus Ledford and Daniel Sherlin.
GOP candidates for school board are incumbents’,Reba Beck and Danny Jones along with Darryl McClure.
The local races are filled with a single party’s candidates, but both the Democratic and Republican Party chairpersons say they feel strongly about exercising our right to vote.
“Every eligible voter should vote in the primary. Voting is how we maintain our democracy,” said Democratic Party Chairperson Barbara Lanwermeyer. “Democrats don’t have any local candidates this cycle, but absolutely need to vote for the state candidates for N.C. House and Senate and U.S. House and Senate seats. The issues we face are more important than the party.”
Republican Party chairperson Sissie Penland agrees on the importance of voting.
“It’s important to do our duty as citizens. Exercise our opinions. It could be that the people who get in there are not who you want in there if you don’t get out and vote,” she said. “We’re having a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Thursday where everyone can come and meet the candidates. I don’t know if people realize how close the primary is.”
Penland is correct. The primary is only weeks away, but the window in which to register to vote is closing.
People who are not registered to vote have until Friday, Feb. 7. This also applies to voters who wish to change their party affiliation or other information relating to their voter registration such as names or addresses.
If this deadline is missed, you can register and vote in early-voting or one-stop which is Thursday, Feb. 13 through Saturday, Feb. 29.
You will need proof of residency and identification to register to vote.
In addition, absentee request forms are available at the Clay County Board of Elections. Request for an absentee ballot must be made on an absentee request form and must be received in the county’s BOE office or any one-stop early voting site by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Completed ballots must be returned by 5 p.m. on election day, according to a legal notice from the Board of Elections.