Primary Election Day is Tuesday

Jessica Webb

editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com

 

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 5.

There’s also still a chance at early voting as well today (Thursday) through Saturday. Early voting hours today and Friday are 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

To check your voter registration status and view a sample ballot, visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/. For questions, contact the local office at 488-6177.

Voting has gone smoothly so far in Swain County, according to Swain County BOE Director Adam Byrnes.

Swain County currently has 9,825 registered voters, including those who have done same-day registration during early voting. As of 11:05 a.m. on Wednesday, a total of 601 ballots have been cast including 594 in person and seven absentees by mail, according to Byrnes.

“Voting has generally gone smoothly so far, and our new equipment is working well,” Byrnes said by email.

During a primary election, those currently registered with a party must vote that party’s ballot. Unaffiliated voters will choose a ballot between the three parties available: Democratic, Republican or Libertarian.

 

‘I Voted’ stickers

Voters in Swain County will get to choose one of two local designs for their ‘I Voted’ sticker, both created by local students. One is a digital design by Swain County High School 11th grader Ben Walls and a second is a drawing by Cherokee Central High School student Kaniah Wolfe.

Byrnes shared the following about the stickers by email.

“They have been very well-received by the public so far. We’d especially like to highlight that many high schoolers can vote in the primary, and these stickers serve as a great reminder of that. Any qualified voter who will turn 18 by Nov. 5 is able to vote in the March 5 Primary Election. Any voter not currently registered will have to register and vote at one of our two Early Voting sites (the Swain County Board of Elections office and the Birdtown gym) by March 2 in order to vote in the primary, as same-day registration is not allowed on Election Day itself,” he said.

On Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, all precincts will be open from 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. The precincts and their locations are listed below:

Alarka: Alarka Fire Department, 3601 Alarka Road, Bryson City

Almond: SCC – Swain Center, 60 Almond School Road, Bryson City

BC1: Bryson City Federal Building, 50 Main Street, Bryson City

BC2: Swain County Courthouse, 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City

Whittier/Cherokee: Birdtown Recreation Center, 1212 Birdtown Road, Cherokee [same as Early Voting site]

 

Voter ID

In accordance with state law, voters will be asked to present a photo ID at the polls.

“All voters will be asked to show ID,” said Byrnes.

Most voters will show their driver’s license, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted. As Byrnes noted, IDs that expired after a voter turned 65 will still be accepted. Other forms of ID that will be allowed include Western Carolina University student IDs, employee IDs, military or veteran IDs and tribal membership cards.

“All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID, as voters will be still be able vote a provisional ballot if they do not have ID at the polls,” Byrnes said. “Any Swain County voter may obtain a free Voter ID card from our office prior to Election Day by March 2 at 3 p.m.”

Voters who do not have photo ID can make sure their vote counts by either (1) filling out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID, or (2) showing their ID at the county board of elections office by 5 p.m. March 14. Comprehensive information about the photo ID requirement is available at BringItNC.com.

“Additionally, if voters who are currently not registered in Swain County would like to vote in the primary, they must vote by the end of Early Voting on March 2 at 3 p.m. They may do a same-day registration and vote if they present proof of residency at the polls,” Byrnes added.

While registered voters can also update their existing information like their address at the polls, Byrnes points out they cannot update their party affiliation at this time.

 

Early voting results

North Carolina State Board of Elections reported on Tuesday that because of recently adopted legislation, in-person early voting results will be reported later than usual on the primary election night.

The delay is estimated at just about 30 minutes to an hour for small counties, although it could take longer. Previously, county boards of elections could tabulate early voting results before the close of polls, then report those results almost immediately at 7:30 p.m. on election night. Under changes made in Session Law 2023-140 (Section 29), county boards must wait until 7:30 p.m. to “close the polls” on early voting tabulators and begin the process of counting and reporting results of ballots cast during the early voting period.

“Those who watch election results in North Carolina have come to expect a large chunk of results very soon after polls close,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “That will not happen this year, although the State Board and county boards of elections remain committed to providing unofficial results as quickly as possible. We ask for patience from voters and candidates as election officials comply with changes to election laws that affect election night processes.”