Polk County Democrats

Introduction

One of the best innovations in North Carolina election law is the provision for voting early, and polkdemocrats.com strongly urges you to take advantage of it. Most people still prefer to vote at their polling place on election day, but that leaves a lot to the vagaries of the weather and crowds.  Vote early; it's the way to go.

Early Voting is simply voting whenever it's convenient for you, with no problems of crowds or weather on election day in unpredictable November.  It reduces the load on the Board of Elections and the poll workers, in fact as many as one-third of Polk County voters now vote this way.

Early Voting simply substitutes the Board of Election Office in Columbus plus the two satellite locations for your polling place; you just go there when it's convenient for you, and vote as you normally would.  Details follow.

Window for Early Voting

Early Voting begins on the third Thursday before the election, and continues until the last Saturday before the election.  For the 2010 election, that window is October 14 through October 30.  Except for the final Saturday before the election, the window is business days only.

Locations and Times

The main location for early voting is the office of the Board of Elections on the second floor of the Womack Building on Courthouse Square in Columbus, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm every business day. 

There also two satellite Early Voting locations, which are activated or not depending on the anticipated voter turnout for each election.  For the 2010 general election, the two satellite locations will be operating.  They are:

-- The Green Creek Family Life Center, which will be open from noon to 7:00 pm every business day. 

-- The Mill Spring Fire Department, also from noon to 7:00 pm every business day. 

On the last Saturday before the election (October 30), all three locations will be open from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Register and Vote

Another big advantage of voting early is that North Carolina law now allows you to register to vote and then vote immediately.  You cannot do that on election day or with absentee voting.  If for whatever reason you aren't registered (and are eligible) you can just go to any of the early voting locations during the window and register and vote at the same time.

HQ Open

Each day during open voting, the party headquarters at 64 Ward Street in Columbus will be open during the hours 12 to 4 pm.  Volunteers will be there with information and the all-important pocket ballots for you to take with you when vote early at the Womack building, which is a short walk away. 

Be sure to avail yourself of this opportunity to get your questions answered and get the materials you need to cast an informed vote.  There are some confusing things on the ballot, and the best way to figure them out is just to ask.