Staff reports
Don’t delay, tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in the November General Election. In the local elections, voters will be casting their ballots for county commissioners, county commission chairman, sheriff, board of elections and clerk of court, board of education and soil and water conservation district supervisor.
Voters will also choose candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, NC General Assembly, state and local judges, district attorney.
The Swain County Board of Elections Office began accepting requests for absentee ballots by mail Sept. 9 for the election. The last day to request an absentee is Tuesday, Nov. 1. You can request an absentee ballot by going to vote
bymail.ncsbe.gov or contacting the local office.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the office by Election Day Nov. 8.
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Election Day, but there is plenty of time to vote early as well.
One-stop early voting will begin next week on Thursday, Oct. 20 and go through Saturday, Nov. 5 at the following locations:
• County Board of Elections office at 1422 Hwy 19 South, Bryson City and
• Birdtown Rec Center, 1212 Birdtown Road, Cherokee.
One-stop will be open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday Oct. 23 and Oct. 29 and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.
Eligible voters can register during early voting, and new registrants will be required to show proof of residence.