By Josh Bergeron 

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

When North Carolinians vote in the 2016 party primaries, most won’t need valid photo identification to vote with a mail-in absentee ballot.

The absentee voting period is currently open, and it’s one of the few ways North Carolina voters can cast ballots without a valid photo ID, according to guidelines published by the State Board of Elections.

Voters can also cast ballots curbside by providing certain government documents with a current address. Voters over the age of 70 can provide a photo ID that expired after his or her 70th birthday. Those who have a “reasonable impediment” can vote with a provisional ballot. Reasonable impediments include: lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness or disability and certain other reasons.

In most other situations, voters will be required to show a form of photo ID to cast a ballot. Acceptable photo IDs include a North Carolina drivers license, NC identification card, U.S. passport, military identification card, veterans identification card and certain tribal cards.

For Rowan residents who want to vote absentee, the Rowan County Board of Elections provided the steps required to obtain a ballot. The steps include:

• Obtaining a ballot request form, which can be found on the Rowan County Board of Elections website

Voters can also obtain a request form in person at the Rowan County Board of Election — 130 West Innes St. in Salisbury — or call and ask staff to mail a form.

Rowan County Elections Specialist Laura Russell said the State Board of Elections is expected to mail out a voter’s guide with an absentee request form included.

• Deliver the ballot request form to the Rowan County Board of Elections

The request form can be delivered in person or by mail.

• The Rowan County Board of Elections will then mail an official ballot.

• After filling out a ballot, voters can either deliver the ballot in person or mail it back.

Russell said voters must hand deliver the ballot in person or have an immediate relative do the same.

“You can’t have your next-door neighbor bring it in,” she said.

Civilian absentee ballots must be delivered in person by 5 p.m. on election day — March 15. Ballots mailed in must be postmarked by March 15 and arrive by March 21, according to the State Board of Elections.

Ford raising campaign cash without competition

State Rep. Carl Ford, R-76, doesn’t have any competition in the March party primary or November general election, but his campaign has still raised a small chunk of change. He’s also spent a good portion of the money.

Campaign finance reports for the second half of 2015 were due last week, and most were available online this week. Ford raised a total of $4,200 during the reporting period, which started July 1 and ended Dec. 31. During the same period, he spent $2,981.59.

When asked about his recent campaign finance report, Ford said party and caucus dues are one reason why he needs to raise campaign cash in 2016.

A total of $300 came in contributions of $50 or less. His two largest contributions were from County Commissioners Craig Pierce and M.D. Ford. Both gave Ford’s campaign committee $1,000 in October.

Other notable contributions include:

• Commissioner Mike Caskey, who gave Ford $150

• Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds, who gave Ford $100

• Rowan-Salisbury School Board member Dean Hunter, who gave Ford $100

• Businessman and former Republican Party Chairman John Leatherman, who gave Ford $100

• $150 from the campaign committee for State Rep. Dana Bumgardner, a Republican who represents Gaston County

• $150 from the campaign committee of local attorney and 2015 Salisbury City Council candidate Todd Paris

• $100 from the Historical Society of South Rowan

Ford’s expenditures in the reporting period include:

• $864.39 for T-shirts from Today’s Trading Company — a business owned by former County Commissioners Chairman Jim Sides

• $207 to file for re-election

• $456 to pay for catering from Gary’s BBQ for a campaign kickoff event in October

• $488.46 to pay for candy to be used during two parades in Rowan County

• $275.73 to pay for accounting expenditures

• $600 paid to the Cabarrus County Republican Party

Warren outpaces competition in fundraising

State Rep. Harry Warren, R-77, has primary competition from UNCC Master’s degree student Andrew Poston, and Warren raised notably more money than Ford in the reporting period.

Warren, the only local, state legislator who has competition in 2016, raised a total of $12,329 and had a total of $29,939 on hand at the end of the reporting period. Much of the money carried over from previous reporting period.

Warren’s total is much more than Poston, who raised $446.

The largest, single portion of Warren’s money came from political committees, nicknamed PACs. His largest individual receipt was $500. He received $500 from from Greenville resident Royce Everette and another $500 from Salisbury resident Bryan Overcash.

Warren’s PAC contributions include:

• $1,000 from Century Link Employees PAC in Washington, D.C.

• $100 from the Edgar Starnes Campaign in Hickory

• $2,500 from the NC Farm Bureau PAC in Raleigh

• $500 from the NC Home Builders Association PAC in Raleigh.

• $1,000 from PSNC Energy PAC in Raleigh.

• $1,000 from Piedmont Natural Gas

Warren’s notable contributions from individuals include:

• $100 from Caskey

• $100 from Leatherman

• $100 from former Salisbury Mayor Paul Woodson

• $250 from Pierce

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.