Early voting starts in Richmond County at new BOE office

ROCKINGHAM — Early voting began Thursday at the Richmond County Board of Elections’ new office.

The office moved to the new county services building — formerly the Pee Dee Electric facility — at 190 Midway Road in Rockingham earlier this year.

Elections Director Shannon Hearne said the office had been busy, with 580 residents casting their ballots by 3:43 p.m.

Early voting runs through Oct. 31: 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

On election day, Nov. 3, polls will be open at the various local precincts from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Some polling locations have changed from previous years. The following is a list of current locations by precinct:

• Rockingham No. 1 - Browder Park
• Rockingham No. 2 - Rockingham Middle School Auditorium
• Rockingham No. 3 - Northside Fire Department
• Wolf Pit No. 1 - East Rockingham Senior Center
• Wolf Pit No. 2 - Cordova Fire & Rescue
• Marks Creek No. 1 - L.J. Bell Elementary (former Ninth Grade Academy)
• Marks Creek No. 2 - Richmond County Schools Central Office
• Mineral Springs No. 1 First United Methodist Church, Ellerbe
• Mineral Springs No. 2 - Norman Town Office
• Steeles No. 1 - Mangum Community Building
• Beaver Dam No. 1 - Hoffman Recreation Center

This year’s ballot includes several contested local races, including for sheriff, district attorney and the Richmond County Board of Commissioners.

Incumbent Sheriff Mark Gulldege faces a challenge from former deputy Tahid “Ty” Rucker; and current District Attorney Jamie Adams is squaring off against local lawyer Todd Scott.

As for the commissioners race, incumbents Justin Dawkins and Jason Gainey are each vying for one of four seats after Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins decided not to run and Commissioner Robin Roberts was defeated in the Republican primary.

Challengers include: Republicans Laverne Schultz and Terry Lewis; Democrats Linda Ross and Cameron Wright; and unaffiliated candidate Michael Legrand.

There are two seats for Richmond County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor and two candidates — Johnny McInnis and Kenneth J. Hill. McInnis currently serves as vice chairman.

Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel is unopposed, as are district court judges Chevonne Wallace and Chris Rhue.

At the state level, Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, is being challenged by Democrat Joe Parfitt for the District 52 seat in the N.C. House of Representatives; and Sen. Dave Craven, R-Randoph, faces opposition from Judy Little of Anson County on the Democratic ticket.

There are also three judicial seats on the N.C. Court of Appeals and two on the N.C. Supreme Court being contested.

On the federal level, U.S. Rep. Mark Harris faces challenges from Democrat Colby Watson and Green Party candidate Bo Whitehead.

One of North Carolina’s two U.S. Senate seats is up from grabs. Candidates in that race are: former N.C. Governor Roy Cooper (D); Republican Michael Whatley; Libertarian Shannon Bray; and the Green Party’s Michael Dublin.

The ballot also features three proposed constitutional amendments:

• to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.
• to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%)
• to require limits on property tax increases by local governments.

See a full sample ballot below.