Early voting for municipal elections begins today

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 16, 2019

SALISBURY — Today is the first day for one-stop voting for municipal elections.

Voters within a city or town limits can vote ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5.

Rowan County Elections Director Brenda McCubbins said her office finished setting up for one-stop voting on Monday. The room includes a table for voters to register and pick up a ballot and more than 20 booths for voting.

McCubbins recommended voters consider coming early to prevent standing in line on Election Day. She said one-stop voting is a convenient way to cast a ballot.

One-stop voting allows those who are not registered to do so before they vote, too.

To same-day register, proof of residency is required. That can be a current and valid photo ID, such as an N.C. driver’s license or identification card or a photo ID issued by a government agency.

Also acceptable is a document showing the registrant’s name and current address. Such documents include a utility bill; a paycheck from an employer; a private bank statement; a property tax statement issued by a government agency; a vehicle registration issued by a government agency; a government check, invoice, statement or receipts; a public housing identification card; a lease or rental statement; public education institution documents; a government insurance plan card; a drug discount card or drug prescription issued by a government care facility; discharge certificates; pardons; a public transportation card; invoices, receipts or correspondence; public assistance or disability agency documents; documents issued by a government doctor, government shelter or temporary/transitional housing facility; a drug prescription from a government doctor or other government health care provider; and a college and university roster used in conjunction with a school photo ID.

A voter must be a U.S. citizen; be 18 years old or turn 18 on or before Nov. 5; not be actively on probation or parole for a felony conviction; and have lived in Rowan County at the residence given at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

The one-stop site will be open beginning today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and continue through Nov. 1 on weekdays. Saturday voting will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26.

There is one site in the county to vote early — at the Rowan County Board of Elections Office, 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd. W. Early voting will not be at the voter’s assigned polling place.

At a Board of Elections meeting Tuesday, members appointed precinct officials for Election Day. They also looked at the schedule for elections deputies for one-stop voting.

At the next meeting, the board will begin processing absentee ballots. Absentee voting by mail began Oct. 4.  Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 5.

Election Day voting will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Voting that day will be at assigned polling places. To find a polling place, visit ncsbe.gov.

Voter IDs are not needed for the municipal elections.