Early voting begins Oct. 15 in Jones County

Jones County voters can cast ballots early beginning Thursday, Oct. 15, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The ballot includes races for sheriff, county commissioners, school board, state legislature and Congress, along with constitutional amendments and mixed beverage referendums.

Early voting will take place at the Jones County Board of Elections office, 367 N.C. 58 S., Unit B, in Trenton.

The site will open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15-16, Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 26-30. The final day of early voting is Saturday, Oct. 31, when the office will open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be no early voting Oct. 17-18 or Oct. 24-25.

County races

• County commissioner, District 1: Lou Miller (Democrat); Ralph Gray (Republican).

• County commissioner, District 2: Brittney Meadows (Democrat); Michael Jordan (Republican).

• County commissioner, District 3: Fernanda Copeland, John H. (Jack) Bender III and Richard Avery Jr. (all unaffiliated).

• County commissioner, District 4: Zachary (Zach) Simons (unaffiliated); Michael D. Pretty (Democrat).

• County commissioner, District 5: Frank Emory (Republican).

• County commissioner, District 6: Harvey L. Rouse Jr. (Republican); Mike Haddock (unaffiliated).

• County commissioner, District 7: Ashley Norris (Republican); Vernon Lee Harris (unaffiliated).

• Board of Education, vote for up to three: Lisa Byrd, Debbie Philyaw and Charles (Chance) Gray III (Republicans); Keith Parrish (Democrat).

• Clerk of Superior Court: Chris Henderson (Democrat).

• Sheriff: Matthew J. Wineman (Republican).

• Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, vote for up to two: Samantha Jo Bennett; Keith Metts. This race is nonpartisan.

Municipal races

The following races are nonpartisan.

• Pollocksville mayor: Jay Bender.

• Pollocksville commissioner, vote for up to two: Nancy Barbee; Sherry Henderson.

• Trenton mayor: Rick Green.

• Trenton commissioner, vote for up to three: Joshua McKinney; Allyson Williamson; Wendy Winslow.

Legislative and congressional races

• N.C. Senate, District 9: Brent Jackson (Republican).

• N.C. House, District 12: Chris Humphrey (Republican); Don Hardy (Democrat).

• U.S. Senate: Michael Dublin (Green Party); Roy Cooper (Democrat); Shannon W. Bray (Libertarian); Michael Whatley (Republican).

• U.S. House, District 3: Daniel Cavender (Libertarian); Raymond Smith (Democrat); Greg Murphy (Republican).

Judicial and district attorney races

• Superior Court, District 5, Seat 1: Robert H. Gilmore (Republican).

• District Court, District 5, Seat 1: Mario White (Democrat).

• District Court, District 5, Seat 2: Morgan H. Swinson (Republican).

• District Court, District 5, Seat 8, unexpired term: Johnathon S. Naylor (Republican).

• District attorney, District 5: Ernie Lee (Republican).

• N.C. Supreme Court, associate justice Seat 1: Anita Earls (Democrat); Sarah Stevens (Republican).

• N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 1: Michael C. Byrne (Republican); John S. Arrowood (Democrat).

• N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 2: George Cooper Bell (Republican); Tobias (Toby) Hampson (Democrat).

• N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 3: Craig Collins (Republican); Christine Marie Walczyk (Democrat).

Ballot questions

Voters may select “For” or “Against” on each applicable question.

• Photo identification amendment: Would require photo identification before voting for all voters, including those voting by mail.

• Income tax amendment: Would set the constitutional ceiling for the state income tax rate at 3.5%.

• Property tax amendment: Would require limits on property tax increases by local governments.

• Jones County mixed beverage referendum: Would permit mixed beverage sales at specified venues and beer and unfortified wine sales for consumption on and off the premises at qualifying establishments.

• Pollocksville mixed beverage referendum: Pollocksville voters will also decide a separate town question covering mixed beverage sales at specified venues and beer and unfortified wine sales for consumption on and off the premises at qualifying establishments.

District and municipal races appearing on an individual ballot depend on the voter’s address.

Eligible residents may register and vote during early voting. Voters will be asked to show photo identification.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters casting ballots that day must use their assigned precinct.

For more information, contact the Jones County Board of Elections at 252-448-3921.