Election Day 2022: What to know about Wilmington-area races
Later this month and in November, citizens in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties will head to the polls to choose their elected representatives.
Before going to the ballot box, here are some things to know.
Voter registration deadline
For those who have recently moved to the area — or even moved to a new district within the same county — it’s important to make sure your voter registration information is up-to-date. Although the voter registration deadline for this Election Day was Friday, October 14, those who missed that deadline may still register and vote in the Nov. 8 election by visiting the early voting site within their county during the designated early voting period, Thursday, October 20 through Saturday, November 5. There they will be able to register and vote on the same day.
To register to vote, a person must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Live in the county of his/her registration, and have lived there for at least 30 days before the date of the election
Be at least 18 years old or will be by the date of the general election (17-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the general election on November 8 are eligible to register and vote)
Not be in jail or prison for a felony conviction
Three ways to vote
There are three ways to vote in the November 8 election: absentee by mail, One-Stop early voting, and at the polls on Election Day.
Anyone who wishes to vote absentee by mail may request a ballot using the NC Absentee Request Form or online through the NC Absentee Portal at North Carolina Absentee Ballot Portal (ncsbe.gov). Ballots will be mailed to the address provided. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 1 (the Tuesday before Election Day).
The online portal also contains information for military/overseas voter services and accessible ballots. Those who are visually impaired and need assistance with the absentee portal may call Matt Stone, the ADA coordinator at 919-805-1302.
One-Stop early voting is available at selected early voting sites within the county prior to Election Day. (See county information below for available early voting sites.)
To cast a ballot on Election Day, voters must go to their designated polling site in the county where they live. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Brunswick County
During the early voting period, voters may cast their ballots at any of these early voting locations:
Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland
Brunswick Center at Southport, 1513 N. Howe St., Unit 1, Southport
Brunswick Center at Shallotte, 3620 Express Drive, Shallotte
Southwest Brunswick Branch Library, 9400 Ocean Highway West, Calabash
The following schedule applies to the above sites:
Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 22: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 23: noon to 4 p.m.
Monday, October 24 through Friday, October 28: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 29: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 30: noon to 4 p.m.
Monday, October 31 through Friday, November 4: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 5: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A fifth early voting site will be open at the Brunswick County Government Center.
Cooperative Extension Training Room, 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, Bolivia
The following schedule applies to the Brunswick County Government Center site:
Monday, October 20 through Friday, November 4: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, November 5: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Brunswick County Board of Elections office is located at 75 Stamp Act Drive, Building H, Bolivia. To contact the office, call 910-253-2620, or visit www.BrunswickNCVotes.com.
New Hanover County
During the early voting period, New Hanover County voters may cast their ballots at any of the five sites.
1241 Military Cutoff Road, David E. Paynter Room, Wilmington
Cape Fear Community College Downtown Campus, Health Sciences Building, 415 N. 2nd St., Wilmington
Cape Fear Community College North Campus, McKeithan Center, 4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne
Carolina Beach Town Hall, Police Training Room, 1121 Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, Multi-purpose Room, 2222 S. College Road, Wilmington
The following schedule applies to all early voting sites:
Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 24 through Friday, October 28: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30: noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, October 31 through Friday, November 4: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 5: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The New Hanover County Board of Elections has moved to 1241A Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington. For more information, call the office at 910-798-7330, or visit Board of Elections | New Hanover County | North Carolina (nhcgov.com).
Pender County
Voters in Pender County will have their choice of three sites during the One-Stop early voting period. They are:
Pender County NC Cooperative Extension Auditorium, 801 S. Walker St., Burgaw
Pender County Annex Building, 15060 U.S. 17, Hampstead
Atkinson School Gym, 200 N. Town Hall Ave., Atkinson
The schedule for all three sites is:
Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Monday, October 24 through Friday, October 28: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 29: Closed
Sunday, October 30: noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, October 31 through Friday, November 4: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 5: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Pender County Board of Elections is located at 807 S. Walker St., Burgaw. For more information, call the office at 910-259-1220, or visit the website at Board of Elections | Board of Elections (pendercountync.gov).
General election races
New Hanover Board of Commissioners: Four candidates − LeAnn Pierce, Travis Robinson, Tom Toby, and Rob Zapple − are running for two seats on New Hanover County's Board of Commissioners.
Meet the candidates:New Hanover Board of Commissioners
New Hanover County Schools Board of Education: Eight candidates − Josie Barnhart, Nelson Beaulieu, Pat Bradford, Dorian Cromartie, Judy Justice, Melissa Mason, Veronica McLaurin-Brown, and Pete Wildeboer − are running for four seats.
Meet the candidates:New Hanover County Board of Education
North Carolina Senate, District 7: Michael Lee is facing off against Marcia Morgan in a bid to represent District 7 in the North Carolina state senate.
Meet the candidates:North Carolina Senate, District 7
North Carolina House, District 17: Frank Iler and Eric Terashima face off to represent District 17 in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Meet the candidates:N.C. House District 17
N.C. House, District 18: Deb Butler faces off against John Hinnant to represent District 18 in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Meet the candidates:N.C. House District 18
N.C. House, District 20: Ted Davis and Amy Block DeLoach face off to represent District 20 in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Meet the candidates:N.C. House District 20
New Hanover County Sheriff: Ed McMahon and Matt Rhodes face off in the race for New Hanover County Sheriff.
Meet the candidates:New Hanover County Sheriff
U.S. House of Representatives, District 7: David Rouzer and Charles Graham vie to represent District 7 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Meet the candidates:North Carolina's 7th U.S. Congressional District
N.C. District Court Judge, District 13, Seat 2: Quintin McGee and Bryan Wilson vie for a spot as an N.C. District County Judge.
Meet the candidates:N.C. District Court Judge, District 13, Seat 2
Brunswick County Schools Board of Education: Two candidates each are vying for a spot in districts 3 and 5. In District 3, the race is between William Flythe and Robin Moffitt while in District 5 it's Steve Gainey and Cameron Hankins.
Meet the candidates:Brunswick County Board of Education
Pender County Schools Board of Education: Two candidates each are vying for a spot in districts 1 and 4. In District 1, the race is between Sheree E. Shepard and Brent Springer while in District 4 it's Demetrice A. Keith and Ken Smith.
Meet the candidates:Pender County Board of Education
New Hanover County soil and water district supervisor: Three candidates − Lance Capps, Evan Folds, and Frank Christopher Meares − are vying for two spots.
Meet the candidates:New Hanover soil and water conservation district supervisor
Brunswick County soil and water district supervisor: Three candidates − Mike Barbee, Jody E. Clemmons, and Anthony Wayne − are vying for two spots.
Meet the candidates:Brunswick soil and water conservation district supervisor
Uncontested races
N.C. State Senate, District 8: Bill Rabon
N.C. House of Representatives, District 19: Charlie Miller
District Attorney, District 6: Ben David
New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court: Jan Giacalone Kennedy
N.C. District Court Judge, District 13, seat 1: Will M. Callihan Jr.
N.C. District Court Judge, District 13, Seat 7: Sarah McPherson
District Attorney, District 15: Jon David
Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, District 1: Randy Thompson
Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, District 2: J.M. (Marty) Cooke
Brunswick County Clerk of Superior Court: Katie Madon
Brunswick County Sheriff: John W. Ingram V
N.C. Senate, District 9: Brent Jackson
N.C. House, District 16: Carson Smith
N.C. District Court Judge, District 5, Seat 1: Lindsey L. McKee
N.C. District Court Judge, District 5, Seat 2: James Henry Faison III
N.C. District Court Judge, District 5, Seat 3: Melinda Crouch
N.C. District Court Judge, District 5, Seat 4: Chad E. Hogston
Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 1: Jimmy T. Tate
Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 2: Wendy Fletcher-Hardee
Pender County Board of Commissioners, District 3: Jerry D. Groves
Pender County Board of Education, District 2: Beth Burns
Pender County Clerk of Superior Court: Elizabeth H. Craver
Pender County Sheriff: Alan W. Cutler
Pender Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Bill Murrell
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What you should know about Wilmington-area elections
