ROCKINGHAM — Around 5% of the registered voters in four Richmond County municipalities hit the polls early, ahead of election day.
According to Elections Director Connie Kelly, 539 of the 10,340 voters (5.2%) in Rockingham, Hamlet and Ellerbe took advantage of early voting, which began Oct. 14 and ended Saturday. There were no early votes for the Hoffman election.
The largest percentage of early voters was in Rockingham with 467 of 5,668 (8.3%) casting ballots in the town with a three-way mayoral race between Mayor Steve Morris, Mayor Pro Tem John Hutchinson and challenger Michael McRae.
Jeff Benson and Chris Turner will face off against sitting members Denise Sullivan, Gene Willard and Anne Edwards for three seats on the Rockingham City Council.
The top two vote-getters in the Rockingham election will have a four-year term and the third-highest will serve a two-year term. The mayoral position is also a two-year term.
Ellerbe Mayor Fred Cloninger faces a challenge from Brenda Capel, and Thomas R. Grooms and Bennett Hawks are vying for seats on that town’s board along with incumbents Elsie Freeman, Jean Fletcher and John Sears Jr.
Thirty-six of the town’s 524 voters (6.8%) voted early.
In Hoffman, Council members Ricardo “Ricky” Anderson, Daniel Kelly, Rory K. Jones and Cynthia Northcutt are running for reelection, with Kyonna Jones trying for a seat. Mayor Tommy Hart is unchallenged.
All seats in Hoffman are up for reelection, as that town has two-year, non-staggered terms.
There is no competition for either of the two Hamlet City Council seats — currently held by Eddie Martin and Jesse McQueen — or the mayoral seat occupied by Bill Bayless.
Only 34 of the town’s 3,818 voters cast their ballots early.
Polls open Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
