More than 5,000 people have voted in the November General Election since early voting started on Oct. 20.
As of the Monday evening, 5,935 people had voted (including 487 vote-by-mail ballots), according to the Macon County Board of Elections. The total included 1,347 Democrats, 2,617 Republicans, 11 Libertarians and 1,960 Unaffiliated voters. There are 27,955 registered voters in the county.
“I am very pleased with the early voting turnout, we have been very busy,” said Melanie Thibault, director of Macon County Board of Elections. “I think Election Day will be busy also.” She said about 500 people are voting each day during early voting.
Early voting continues through Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Community Building in Franklin and the Highlands Civic Center. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
On Election Day, Nov. 8, all precincts will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. People must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day.
For those who requested absentee vote-by-mail ballots, those must be returned to the Board of Elections by Election Day.
For more information, contact the Macon County Board of Elections at 828-349-2034 or maconnc.org/board-of-elections.
A sample ballot is available on the Macon County Board of Elections website.
Note: The polls will close on Election Day after the deadline for the Nov. 9 edition of The Franklin Press. Results will be posted on thefranklinpress.com and The Franklin Press Facebook page.
On the ballot
In addition to the races for various county, district, state and federal offices, Macon County voters will vote “for” or “against” a one-quarter percent (.25%) local sales and use tax in addition to all other state and local sales and use taxes.
This proposed sales tax increase is being presented as a way to help fund capital projects for the school system, including construction of a new Franklin High School.
Following Election Day, Macon County will see some new faces in local offices as well as at the federal level.
The Macon County sheriff’s race was decided during the May primary as no Democrats ran against a slate of five Republican candidates. Brent Holbrooks was the top vote getter and will replace current Sheriff Robert Holland who is retiring after having served in that office since 2002.
Longtime Clerk of Court Vic Perry did not run for re-election and retired in May. Shawna Thun Lamb was appointed to fill the position. She was the top vote-getter on the Republican ticket in the May primary. Democratic candidate Dinah Mashburn suspended her campaign and pledged her support for Lamb.
Board of Commissioners
There will be a new person representing District 1 on the Board of Commissioners as Jim Tate did not run for re-election after 11 years on the board. Tate currently serves as board chair. John Shearl is running for that seat on the Republican ticket and Jerry Moore is running as an unaffiliated candidate.
Two District 2 seats are up for election. Incumbents Gary Shields (Republican) and Ronnie Beale (Democrat) will face challengers Danny Antoine (Republican) and Betty Cloer Wallace (Democrat).
Board of Education
There will be a new representative for District 2 on the Macon County Board of Education. Incumbent and longtime board member Tommy Cabe had filed to run for re-election but passed away in September. His name is on the ballot since it had been set before he died.
Running to fill that position are Billy Handley, Stephanie Hyder Laseter and Danny Reitmeier. There is only one seat available in District 2, however Thibault said they are seeing a lot of people mistakenly voting for two candidates in that race. “We’ve probably had more spoiled ballots than the last three elections combined,” she said. Poll workers are giving people the option of getting a new ballot if they have voted for two candidates in the District 2 race. That race will not be counted if a person submits a ballot with two people selected.
“People are supposed to read the ballot instructions, but we are reminding people to vote for only one person in District 2,” Thibault said.
Incumbent Carol Arnold and challenger Diedre Kaye Breeden are running for the District 4 at-large seat.
State races
Incumbent Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) and challenger Karen Burnette McCracken (D) of Almond are running for the District 50 seat in the N.C. Senate. The district includes Macon, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties.
Incumbent Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) is running an uncontested race for the House of Representatives District 120 including Macon, Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
U.S. Senate
Voters will elect a new senator to replace Sen. Richard Burr, who did not run for re-election. There will be four names on the ballot: Matthew Hoh (Green Party), Cheri Beasley (Democrat), Shannon W. Bray (Libertarian) and Ted Budd (Republican).
U.S. House of Representatives
District 11 also will also send a new representative to Washington as Republican incumbent Madison Cawthorn was defeated in the May primary. Running for that office are David Adam Coatney (Libertarian), Chuck Edwards (Republican) and Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (Democrat).
Other races on the ballot include:
N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice – Seat 3: Richard Dietz (R) and Lucy Inman (D)
N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice – Seat 5: Sam J. Ervin IV (D) and Trey Allen (R)
N.C. Court of Appeals – Seat 8: Julee Tate Flood (R) and Carolyn Jennings Thompson (D)
N.C. Court of Appeals – Seat 9: Brad A. Salmon (D) and Donna Stroud (R)
N.C. Court of Appeals – Seat 10: John M. Tyson (R) and Gale Murray Adams (D)
N.C. Court of Appeals – Seat 11: Darren Jackson (D) and Michael J. Stading (R)
Uncontested races:
Macon County Sheriff: Brent Holbrooks (R)
Macon County Register of Deeds: Toddy Raby (D)
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (two seats): Matthew C. Reynolds and Pamela Peek Bell
N.C. Superior Court Judge District 30A – Seat 1: William H. (Bill) Coward (R)
N.C. District Court Judge District 30 – Seat 1: Donna Forga (R)
N.C. District Court Judge District 30 – Seat 2: Kristina Lynn Earwood (R)
N.C. District Court Judge District 30 – Seat 3: Roy Wijewickrama (D)
District Attorney District 43: Ashley Hornsby Welch (R)