Congressional primary election set for June 7

The June 7 primary will feature races for the Democratic and Republican congressional districts and also a race for associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

The congressional primary was pushed back to June after a federal court in February ordered the General Assembly to redraw its district lines. A separate court ruling also deemed that the plan for a retention election for the Supreme Court seats was unconstitutional.

Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is running for his 12th term representing coastal counties, including Dare and Hyde. He will face two challengers in the primary for the 3rd congressional district.

His challengers are Taylor Swift of New Bern and Phil Law of Jacksonville.

In the Democratic primary, David Hurst of Newport will run against Ernest Reeves of Greenville.

The race for associate justice of the state Supreme Court is non-partisan. Voters will choose one of four candidates — Daniel Robertson, Michael R. Morgan, Robert H. Edmunds, and Sabra Jean Faires.

Following is more information on voting in the June 7 primary.

The North Carolina law that makes changes to elections laws, including requiring identification, is being challenged in the courts. However, since March 15, voters have had to produce an ID with a photo while the case makes its way through the judicial system.

Acceptable forms of voter identification include:

N.C. driver’s license or permit (may be expired up to four years).

N.C. identification card (may be expired up to four years).

U.S. passport or passport card (unexpired).

Military identification card (unexpired, if there is an expiration date).

Veteran’s identification card (unexpired, if there is an expiration date).

Certain tribal enrollment cards.

If you do not have one of the forms of ID that is listed as acceptable, you can get a free identification card from the Division of Motor Vehicles.

To get the free DMV card you will need two documents that prove your age and identity, such as birth certificates, court documents, or tax forms; one document to prove North Carolina residency, such as a lease, voter registration card, or utility bill, and your Social Security number.

Voters who are unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID because of a “reasonable impediment” may still vote a provisional ballot at the polls.  The state Board of Elections say “reasonable impediment includes lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness, or disability.”

If you claim a reasonable impediment, you must complete and sign a declaration form and provide one of several alternative forms of identification.

More information, including pictures of acceptable identification, a video on the new photo ID law, and reasonable impediments is available at http://voterid.nc.gov/.

You do not have to produce a photo ID to vote by absentee ballot.

REGISTERING TO VOTE

The last day to register to vote in the June 7 primary in North Carolina is Friday, May 13. However, if you are not registered by Friday, May 13, you can register during one-stop early voting.  You will be required to provide photo identification.

You must also notify the Board of Elections in writing by May 13 if you have changed your name or moved.

Voters who are registered unaffiliated may vote in the primary.  Unaffiliated voters will be given a choice of ballots at the polls — Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican.

ABSENTEE VOTING

All residents who are registered to vote may cast an absentee ballot. Requests must be made on an N.C. Board of Elections request form, which is available on the state board’s website or from the Dare or Hyde county Board of Elections website.

Requests for ballots must be made by May 31 and completed absentee ballot must be returned to the county Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on June 7 or postmarked no later than June 7.

As already noted, you don’t have to produce a photo ID for absentee voting.

ONE-STOP EARLY VOTING

Both Dare and Hyde will have one-stop early voting.

Dare County

Dare County will have one-stop early voting at only one site in Manteo. No one-stop early voting is scheduled on Hatteras Island. One stop early voting will be:

Dare County Administration Building, Room 168. Located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo.  From 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, May 26 and 27, and Tuesday through Friday, May 31-June 3. Also on Saturday, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Hyde County

Testing kitchen adjacent to Board of Elections Office in Swan Quarter. From 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, May 26 and 27, and Tuesday through Friday, May 31-June3. Also from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. 

Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.  Thursday, June 2, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

N.C. Board of Election information on Voter ID: http://voterid.nc.gov/

N.C. Board of Elections: http://www.ncsbe.gov/

Hyde County Board of Elections: http://www.hydecountync.gov/departments/elections_office.php

Dare County Board of Elections: http://www.darenc.com/boe/