Voters in North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District will go to the polls Tuesday, April 30, to cast ballots in the special congressional primary. The district includes 17 counties in Eastern North Carolina and stretches from Camp Lejeune to the Virginia border (see map below).
(image: https://www.ncleg.gov/Files/GIS/Plans_Main/Congress_2016/mapSimple.pdf)
Primaries are being held for the Democratic Party (six candidates), Libertarian Party (two candidates) and Republican Party (17 candidates). Members affiliated with a political party may participate only in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters may vote in any one party’s primary.
The special election is necessary because of the vacancy created by the death of Congressman Walter Jones. A second primary, if necessary, would be July 9. If there’s no second primary, the general election would be July 9. If there’s a second primary, also called a “runoff,” the general election would be September 10. The candidate who receives the second-highest vote total may demand a second primary if no candidate receives more than 30 percent of the votes. The top two vote-getters would be on the ballot for the second primary.
The State Board of Elections offers the following tips for Election Day voters:
- To find out if you are eligible to vote in the 3rd Congressional District primary election or to view your sample ballot, go to the State Board of Elections’ “Voter Lookup” tool here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.
- Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.
- Find your Election Day polling place here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/.
- Same-day registration is not available on Election Day.
- No voter will be turned away. Voters whose registration can’t be verified may cast a provisional ballot. Voters who have moved within their county may update their address at the polls.
- Voters who need assistance at the polls must request that assistance. Individuals who are unable to enter the polling place may vote curbside. Once inside the polling place, voters who experience difficulties should request help from a poll worker.
- Voter photo identification is not required in any North Carolina election in 2019. It will be required to vote in 2020, with exceptions.
- Election results will begin posting after 7:30 p.m. at http://er.ncsbe.gov/.
- Members of the public may submit an election incident report through the “Report an Election Incident” link on the homepage of State Board website, NCSBE.gov.