Here are the candidates and where to cast an early voting ballot in Orange County
Early voting for the 2020 primary begins Thursday in Orange County.
The local races will decide who joins the Orange County School Board, the Orange County Board of Commissioners and a District Court judge seat. There are no Republican candidates on the ballot in the heavily Democratic county. Whoever wins the March 3 primary race is expected to win the Nov. 3 general election.
Other candidates for state and federal offices are seeking their party’s nomination to appear on the November ballot.
More than 47,000 Orange County residents voted in the March primary in 2016 — the last presidential election.
Here’s what you need to know about voting early in Orange County.
When is the primary?
The primary is March 3, and the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters can visit tinyurl.com/rqejmoa to find their polling precinct.
When and where can I vote early in Orange County?
There are six early voting sites, operating on the same schedule. Voters can cast a ballot at any early voting location. All voting sites will be closed Feb. 22-23.
▪ Board of Elections office, 208 S. Cameron St., Hillsborough
▪ Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St., Carrboro
▪ Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
▪ Efland Ruritan Club, 3009 Forrest Ave., Efland
▪ Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
▪ University Place, Suite D14, 201 S. Estes Drive, Chapel Hill
Early voting sites will be open from:
▪ 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Feb. 13-14
▪ 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 15
▪ Noon to 4 p.m., Feb. 16
▪ 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Feb. 17-21 and Feb. 24
▪ 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Feb. 29
What if I live outside Orange County?
Early voting locations and time are different in each county. You can contact your local board of elections office or visit the N.C. Board of Elections website, www.ncsbe.gov, to find your area’s locations.
Who are the local Orange County candidates?
In the Orange County commissioners race, there are two seats on the Democratic ballot in District 1, and one seat each in District 2 and the at-large district.
District 1 voters, who live in Chapel Hill and southern Orange County, can vote in the District 1 and at-large races. Voters in District 2, in the northern part of the county, can vote in the District 2 and at-large races.
▪ Board of County Commissioners District 1: Incumbents Mark Dorosin and Penny Rich against challenger Jean Hamilton
▪ Board of County Commissioners District 2: Incumbent Renee Price is unopposed
▪ Board of County Commissioners At-large District: Incumbent Mark Marcoplos against challenger Amy Fowler
There also are three nonpartisan seats on the Orange County School Board, and one partisan seat for District Court judge, which is a change from previous years.
▪ Orange County School Board: Incumbent Tony McKnight, and challengers Carrie Doyle, Bonnie Hauser, Jennnie McCray, Jennifer Moore and LaTarndra Strong
▪ District Court Judge Seat 3: Erika Bales, Noah Oswald, Hathaway Pendergrass and Lamar Proctor
Who are the state Orange County candidates?
There is one North Carolina senate district.
▪ Incumbent District 23 Sen. Valerie Foushee is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Her challenger in November will be Tom Glendinning, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
There are two N.C. House of Representative districts. Here are those races:
▪ House District 50: Incumbent Graig Meyer is running unopposed
▪ House District 56: Incumbent Verla Insko is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. In November, she will face challenger Joe Parrish, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Voters will also have to decide between statewide and federal candidates in several political parities.
How can I find my sample ballot?
Visit tinyurl.com/rqejmoa to find your sample ballot.
Can I vote in any primary?
If you are registered to a political party, you must vote in that primary. For example, Libertarians can’t vote in the Republican primary. But unaffiliated voters may choose which primary they would like to vote in or can choose an unaffiliated ballot. Unaffiliated ballots do not include partisan races, such as governor, U.S. Senate or president.
Can I register to vote during early voting?
Yes, voters may register to vote or update their registration during early voting. If you are registering to vote, you must bring a driver’s license, a photo ID from a government agency or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document.
Do I need a photo ID to vote?
No, you do not need a photo ID to vote in the March primary. On Dec. 31, 2019, a federal district court blocked the state’s voter photo ID requirement from taking effect. That won’t change until a new order from the court.
When is the general election?
The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Here are the candidates and where to cast an early voting ballot in Orange County."
