Early voting set for runoff primaries

Paul B. Johnson, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·3 min read

Apr. 11—TRIAD — County election boards have set their early voting schedules for the two Republican statewide runoff races from the primary, though the poll sites will be slimmed down compared to other elections.

Davidson and Randolph counties each will have one early voting site, while Guilford County will have four, with two in the High Point area. In-person early voting begins April 25.

Registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters who either didn't vote in the primary or voted the Republican ballot in the primary are eligible to vote in the GOP runoffs for lieutenant governor and state auditor, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. No registered Democratic voters or unaffiliated voters who voted the Democratic ballot in the primary are eligible.

A runoff between the first- and second-place finishers takes place when the top finisher doesn't get more than 30% of the primary vote.

The lieutenant governor contest pits Hal Weatherman of Wake Forest, a former chief of staff for elected leaders, against Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill. Weatherman finished first in the March 5 primary with 19.6% of the total vote among 11 candidates while O'Neill got 15.8%.

The GOP nominee from the runoff will square off against Democratic challenger Rachel Hunt, a state senator from Mecklenburg County and daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt. The race is for an open seat because the incumbent, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, is the party's nominee for governor.

The Republican nomination for state auditor pits certified public accountant Jack Clark of Raleigh against attorney Dave Boliek of Durham. Clark finished first in the six-candidate primary with 23.2% of the total vote while Boliek got 22.1%.

The Republican runoff winner will take on Democratic Jessica Holmes, a former chairwoman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners who was appointed state auditor this past December by Gov. Roy Cooper. Holmes is serving the unexpired term of former Democratic auditor Beth Wood, who resigned in December after pleading guilty to charges of misusing a public vehicle.

There are no local runoff elections for either major party.

Early voting across the state for the two Republican runoffs concludes May 11 before runoff election day, May 14.

In Davidson County the lone early voting site is the board of elections office at 945 N. Main St., Suite A, in Lexington. Weekday hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with the only weekend early voting from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 11.

In Randolph County the only early voting site is the board of elections office at 1457 N. Fayetteville St. in Asheboro. As with Davidson County, weekday hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with the only weekend early voting from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. May 11.

In Guilford County the two High Point-area early voting sites are Deep River Recreation Center at 1529 Skeet Club Road and Jamestown Town Hall at 301 E. Main St.

Weekday early voting is from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. The two days for weekend early voting are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. May 11.

Key 2024 election dates Here are some key dates for this year's campaign season: —April 25 — Start of early voting for primary runoff. —May 11 — End of early voting for primary runoff. —May 14 — Primary runoff election day. —June 3 — Candidate filing begins for the Davidson County Board of Education. —July 5 — Candidate filing begins for Archdale and Trinity municipal elections and concludes for the Davidson County school board. —July 19 — Candidate filing concludes for Archdale and Trinity municipal elections. —Oct. 11 — Deadline to register to vote on Election Day. Oct. 17 — Early voting starts for the general election. —Nov. 1 — Early voting ends for the general election. —Nov. 5 — Election Day. —Nov. 15 — Canvass of general election results. {related_content_uuid}30ace99a-ec2e-456f-8a84-11b5ff9ba461{/related_content_uuid}

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul