Where, when and how to vote in Madison County
MARSHALL - The Nov. 8 election will feature a number of potentially power-shifting contests in Madison County, as the sheriff, county commission and school board candidates will square off.
In addition to these county races, there are a number of state offices up for grabs that Madison County voters will help decide, including the next senator.
According to Madison County Board of Elections Director Jacob Ray, District 1 is composed of voters in the Beech Glen, Ebbs Chapel, Grapevine and Mars Hill districts.
District 2 is composed of the rest of the eight precincts - Hot Springs, Laurel, North Marshall, Revere Rice-Cove, Sandy Mush, South Marshall, Spring Creek and Walnut.
2022 election trends
According to the BOE director, the midterm election trends have followed a similar pattern as in years past.
"We've seen, as far as voter registration is concerned, the trend is about normal. There is a typical uptick right before an election," Ray said. "However, we've seen some registration drives at Mars Hill University, and we have had about 100 or so Mars Hill students who have submitted voter registrations.
"For absentee voting, we've actually received an uptick in request for absentee ballots," Ray said. "Obviously 2020 was crazy, and that was unprecedented. But for this election, for us we're seeing an increase in requests in general. ... It's a little unusual for us that we're seeing more of an uptick in student registrations, and this happened in 2018 as well."
Key dates, information
Voters can cast ballots one of three ways: by absentee ballot, early in-person voting, and voting on the day of the Nov. 8 election. No photo ID is needed to vote.
Request absentee ballot: now until Nov. 1.
Absentee ballots are one of three ways voters can cast a ballot. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot using a form found here: https://votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/absentee/lookup. Voters can also call and ask for an absentee request form to be mailed to them. Once completed, request forms can be mailed to Madison County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 142, Marshall, NC 28753.
After receiving a ballot, voters can mark ballots and must return them to Election Services by 5 p.m. Nov. 8 or postmarked by Nov. 8 and received in the mail by Nov. 14. They can be hand delivered by the voter, a near relative or a verified legal guardian.
Register to vote: by Oct. 14.
Register using the form found here: https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx, or get a form at Board of Elections. Mail completed forms to Madison County BOE, P.O. Box 142, Marshall, NC 28753. Or hand deliver it to Suite E, Room 16, 5707 US 25-70 Hwy, Marshall.
Another option: Voters who plan to cast ballots during early voting can register on that same day.
In-person early voting: Oct. 20-Nov. 5
Early voting will be available at three locations:
Beech Glen Community Center, located at 2936 Beech Glen Road in Mars Hill.
Madison's A-B Tech campus in Marshall, located at 4646 US-25 #70. Ray said voters should use the side entrance so as to not distract students.
Hot Springs Community Center, located at 43 Andrews Ave. North, in downtown Hot Springs.
Early voting hours will be Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Nov. 5, voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Registered and unregistered voters can go to any of the three early voting sites to mark a ballot.
Election Day: Nov. 8
Registered voters can also vote the day of the election at their designated polling places.
Candidates
Ballots differ depending on where voters live. Each ballot will have one N.C. Senate district race and one N.C. House district race. Voters living in some municipalities will get to vote in city or town elections.
U.S. SENATE
Matthew Hoh, Wake Forest, Green Party
Cheri Beasley, Raleigh, Democrat
Shannon W. Bray, Apex, Libertarian
Ted Budd, Raleigh, Republican
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 11
David Adam Coatney, Fletcher, Libertarian
Chuck Edwards, Flat Rock, Republican
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Asheville, Democrat
More:After criticizing Cawthorn for not debating, Edwards says he will only do 1 debate
NC SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SEAT 05
Sam J. Ervin IV, Morganton, Democrat
Trey Allen, Hillsborough, Republican
NC COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, SEAT 08
Julee Tate Flood, Holly Springs, Republican
Carolyn Jennings Thompson, Oxford, Democrat
NC COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, SEAT 09
Brad A. Salmon, Sanford, Democrat
Donna Stroud, Garner, Republican
NC COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, SEAT 10
John M. Tyson, Fayetteville, Republican
Gale Murray Adams, Fayetteville, Democrat
NC COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, SEAT 11
Darren Jackson, Raleigh, Democrat
Michael J. Stading, Charlotte, Republican
NC STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 47 (Madison, plus parts of McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey counties)
Ralph Hise, Spruce Pine, Republican
NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 110 (Madison, Haywood and Yancey counties)
Mark Pless, Canton, Republican
Josh Remillard, Canton, Democrat
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DISTRICT 35 (Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey counties)
Seth Banks, Burnsville, Republican
N.C. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, DISTRICT 24 (Avery, Madison Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties)
Matt Rupp, Boone, Republican
MADISON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Norris Gentry, Marshall, Democrat
Craig Goforth, Marshall, Democrat
Jeremy Hensley, Mars Hill, Republican
Mark Snelson, Hot Springs, Democrat
Alan Wyatt, Mars Hill, Republican
Bill Briggs, Mars Hill, Republican
BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIR
Melissa Sluder, Marshall, Republican
Karen Blevins, Marshall, Democrat
BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT 02
Monica Olnhausen, Weaverville, Republican
Keith Ray, Marshall, Democrat
CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT
Mark Cody, Marshall, Democrat
SHERIFF
Buddy Harwood, Marshall, Democrat
Robin Lyles, Mars Hill, Republican
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Where, when and how to vote in Madison County
