Jessica Webb & Mia Overton
As of today, filing for the 2022 elections in North Carolina will reopen on Thursday, Feb. 24.
While filing began on Dec. 6, everything got pushed back due to legal challenges over the General Assembly’s redrawn districts. The redrawing of district lines corresponds with the Census every 10 years.
Before shutting down filing in December, the North Carolina Supreme Court ordered that the trial court hear the case and issue a ruling by Jan. 11. The trial court met the deadline, but appeals will be heard by the state Supreme Court beginning Feb. 2.
The court order postponing candidate filing also moved the primary from March 8 to May 17.
Opponents of the new maps adopted last fall say they are unconstitutional and due to gerrymandering will give Republicans an advantage in federal and state elections.
While a panel of three Superior court judges upheld the maps recently, opponents appealed to the State Supreme Court.
Just last week, the General Assembly voted to further delay the primary election by three weeks considering the upcoming court hearing, claiming it wouldn’t provide enough time if maps had to be redrawn again.
The Senate approved the extension with a 26-17 vote, and the House approved by 69-50. Gov. Roy Cooper would have to approve the bill before it could become law. If he did so, it would be the second delay in the election.
The state Supreme Court will hold a virtual hearing beginning Feb. 2. The state Board of Elections has said the maps must be finalized by Feb. 28 to keep on schedule for the May 17 primary.
Swain County Board of Elections Director Judy Allman said the changes haven’t presented too much of a challenge for her local office beyond frustration.
“It hasn’t affected our office that much, but it’s frustrating having to sit and wait and never know from one day to the next what we’re going to do,” she said.
As to whether she anticipates further delay to be approved by the Governor, Allman said, “I really don’t know; it’s just in limbo right now.”
Schedule as it stands
Unless the primary date is changed again, the following schedule has been set for the May 17 statewide primary.
Filing will open on Feb. 24 and continue through Friday, March 4 at noon.
The following fees apply for candidates applying in Swain County: Clerk of Court, $998; Register of Deeds, $374.26; Sheriff, $620.79; Chairman Board of Commissioners, $127; Commissioner, $80; Board of Education, $5. Even before officially filing, candidates can submit a statement of organization so they can begin campaigning.
“If they plan on filing, they can still come in and fill out a statement of organization that says they are planning to file and can raise money for their campaigns,” Allman said.
Candidates can file at the Swain County Board of Elections office located at 1422 Hwy 19 South. For questions, the office can be reached at 488-6177.
Absentee ballots will be available beginning March 28 (barring any action by the State Board of Elections or the courts to postpone that date). May 10 is the last day for civilians to request an absentee ballot for the primary.
Voter registration deadline to vote in the statewide primary is April 22.
One-stop, in-person early voting will run April 28 through May 14 at 3 p.m. May 17 will be the statewide primary and the deadline to return civilian absentee ballots.