By Jessie Burchette
Salisbury PostEarly voters will have three sites to cast ballots for the May primary.
No-excuse one-stop voting will be available at two branch libraries in addition to the Elections Office at 130 W. Innes St.
No-excuse one-stop voting will open April 17, a Thursday, and continue through May 3, the first Saturday of the month.
The statewide primary takes place three days later, on May 6.
Nancy Evans, Rowan County’s elections director, announced that one-stop voting will be held at the East Branch Library at 110 Broad St., Rockwell, and the Tadlock South Rowan Library at 920 Kimball Road, China Grove.
In recent years, municipal officials and the Board of Elections have called on the county to open more voting places, in part to lessen the parking and traffic problems at the County Administrative Offices Building at 130 W. Innes St.
Hours for the sites will vary slightly.
Here is a list of the sites, dates and times:
– Board of Elections Office ó Monday-Friday, April 17- May 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; May 3, the only Saturday the office will open, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
– East Branch Library ó Monday-Friday, April 21-May 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; May 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
– Tadlock South Branch Library, April 18-May 2, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; May 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
County residents who are not registered and missed the registration deadline may appear in person at a one-stop absentee voting site, complete the voter registration application form and provide proof of residence by presenting valid documents showing current name and address.Standard absentee ballot applications will be available beginning Monday at the Board of Elections Office. An immediate relative may apply for a ballot to be sent to a voter who is out of town, such as a college student, or for a voter who is confined to the home and cannot get to the polls on election day.
The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to be mailed is 5 p.m. April 29, the last Tuesday of the month.
The primary is May 6. Ballots will include both Democratic and Republican primaries for state and local office.
In addition, Landis voters may cast ballots in a mixed beverage election.
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For further information regarding registration, location of polling places, absentee ballots or other election matters, call the Rowan Elections office at 704-216-8140.
Cabarrus County residents may call 704-920-2860 for further information.
For a complete list of candidates in local races, go to the county Board of Elections web site.
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Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.