ROCKINGHAM — More than 200 people went to the polls Thursday for the first day of early voting for the midterm primaries.
According to Elections Director Connie Kelly, 231 ballots were cast at the Cooperative Extension Office on Caroline Street.
Early voting runs through Saturday, May 14 from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on May 14.
Voters can only vote in the primary for the political party with which they are registered. Unaffiliated voters can choose between a Republican or Democratic party ballot.
Libertarians can vote on the nonpartisan ballot, which will feature the candidates for the Richmond County Board of Education. The school board’s election is the same day as the primary.
Teens who are 17 who will be 18 by the November election can vote in the primary races, but not for the Board of Education.
Eight candidates are vying for four seats on that board: incumbents Joe Richardson, Bobbie Sue Ormsby, and Daryl Mason; and challengers Cory Satterfield, Scotty Baldwin, Bess Shuler, Eddie Rainwater and Jeremy McKenzie.
School Board member Pat Campbell did not file due to health and passed away in early March.
The race for the Richmond County Board of Commissioners currently has multiple candidates from the two main parties and two who are petitioning to be on the ballot in November.
Democratic candidates are: incumbents Don Bryant and Tavares Bostic; and challengers Abbie Covington, Tyrannia Ellerbe, Michael Legrand, Linda Ross and Kevin Clark.
Those running on the Republican ticket are: incumbents Justin Dawkins and Rick Watkins; and challengers Thomas Davenport, Danny Pearson, Karen Everett, Jason Gainey and Robin Roberts.
The field will be narrowed down to four candidates from each party in the primary election.
The two petitioning candidates, Joe Ward and Bryan Stanback, must submit 1,094 valid signatures to the Richmond County Board of Elections the same day to make it on the November ballot.
The Democratic primary will also have two candidates in the contest for Richmond County sheriff: current office holder Mark Gulledge, who was appointed last August following the unexpected death of Sheriff James E. Clemmons Jr.; and former New York officer Nigel Bristow.
Republicans will also have to decide between state Reps. Ben Moss and Jamie Boles, as legislative maps have double-bunked the two in the same district; and between several candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives 9th District seat.
Kelly said three precincts are affected by the county being split into two congressional districts. Marks Creek No. 1 and Beaver Dam No. 1 are in the 9th District and Marks Creek No. 2 is split between the 8th and 9th districts. The rest of the county is in the 8th, which has no primary for U.S. House.
There also are multiple candidates from the two major parties trying to get elected to Richard Burr’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
The primary will be held May 17.
