The ballot is set and awaiting voters across the Roanoke-Chowan area.

The 2014 General Election – one that will decide several important positions on the local, state and federal levels – is set for Tuesday, Nov. 4. However, for those choosing to cast their ballot via the One-Stop method, that process gets underway today (Thursday, Oct. 23) at various locations in Bertie, Gates, Hertford and Northampton counties.

Across the region, and the state as well, all eyes are on the U.S. Senate race where Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan faces a challenge from Republican Thom Tillis, the current Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. Also seeking that seat is Sean Haugh, a Libertarian candidate.

Other regional races include the District 1 U.S. House of Representatives seat that pits incumbent G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat, against Republican challenger Arthur Rich.

There’s also a race for the District 3 US House of Representatives seat between Republican incumbent Walter Jones and Democratic challenger Marshall Adame. District 3 covers a portion of Gates County.

Voters in Bertie, Gates and Hertford will decide which candidate will gain the District 5 NC House of Representatives seat. That race is contested between current Hertford County Commissioner Howard Hunter III, a Democrat, and Gatesville Republican Sidney Pierce III. Hunter knocked off incumbent Representative Annie Mobley in the May Primary.

In Northampton County, Democratic incumbent Michael Wray of Gaston is unchallenged for his District 27 seat in the NC House.

There is a significant battle shaping up for the District 1 seat in the NC Senate. There, Republican incumbent Bill Cook seeks to retain that position, but faces the challenge of Democrat and former State Senator Stan White. Cook edged White two years ago in a hotly contested race, one that was finally decided by less than 30 votes following several re-counts across the District weeks after Election Day. Gates County is in Senate District 1.

Over in Senate District 3, Erica Smith-Ingram of Gaston is running unopposed. Smith-Ingram, a school teacher and former member of the Northampton County Board of Education, upset incumbent Clark Jenkins of Tarboro back in the May Primary.

Other regional candidates include incumbent District 6 Attorney Valerie Asbell (running unopposed), and Gates County voters can choose between R. Andrew Womble, a Republican, and Nancy Lamb, a Democrat, in the race for District 1 Attorney.

Roanoke-Chowan area voters will also help decide races for the Chief Justice and three Associate Justices of the NC Supreme Court as well as four judges on the NC Court of Appeals.

Additionally there is a State Constitutional Amendment referendum, one calling for a vote to decide whether or not a person accused of any criminal offense for which the State is not seeking a sentence of death in superior court may, in writing or on the record in court and with the consent of the trial judge, waive the person’s right to a trial by jury.

County races on this year’s ballot include – note: D denotes Democrat; R denotes Republican; UA denotes Unaffiliated; NP denotes a Non-Partisan race:

Bertie County

County Commissioner (District 2): John (Johnny) Davis (D) or Stewart White (UA);

County Commissioner (District 3): Tammy A. Lee (D);

County Commissioner (District 5): Ernestine (Byrd) Bazemore (D);

Clerk of Superior Court: Vasti F. James (D);

County Sheriff: John Holley (D);

County Board of Education (District 2): Rickey Freeman (NP) or Jo Davis Johnson (NP);

County Board of Education (District 3): Bill Harrell (NP), or Emma H. Johnson (NP), or Niki Ruffin (NP);

County Board of Education (District 4): Barry McGlone (NP), or Alton H. Parker (NP), or Bryan Ruffin (NP);

Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (vote for 2): Robert L. Hoggard (NP), James Pugh (NP), Kent Williams (NP).

One-Stop voting locations in Bertie County include:

Board of Elections Office (210 W. Watson St., Windsor): 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27 and 28; 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 31; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1;

Lewiston (103 West Church St.): 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 30-31; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1;

Merry Hill (109 NC HWY 45 North): 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 30-31; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1; and

Powellsville Town Hall (106 East Main St.): 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 30-31; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Gates County

County Commissioner (Eure District): Billy F. Felton (D);

County Commissioner (Gates District): Ray Freeman III (D);

County Commissioner (Gatesville District): Jack Owens (D);

Clerk of Superior Court: Nell F. Wiggins (D);

County Sheriff: James (Gary) Ingram (R), or Edward E. Webb (D);

District 1 Court Judge: Meader W. Harriss III (NP);

District 1 Court Judge: Eula Reid (NP);

District 1 Court Judge: Robert Parks Trivette (NP); and

Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (vote for 2): Rick H. Morgan (NP), and a write-in vote.

Gates County voters can cast their ballots by One-Stop method at:

Gates County Administrative Building Conference Room (200 Court Street, Gatesville), 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27, 28, 30 and 31; 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1; and 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Gates County Public Library (14 Cypress Creek Drive, Gatesville; behind the State Employees Credit Union on US 158), 12 noon until 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27, 28, 30 and 31; 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1; and 1-8 p.m. on Oct. 29.

Hertford County

County Commissioner (District 1): Johnnie Ray Farmer (D);

County Commissioner (District 2): Daniel Smith Sr. (R) or Curtis Anthony Freeman Sr. (D);

Clerk of Superior Court: Shirley G. Johnson (D);

County Sheriff: Juan Vaughan Sr. (D);

County Board of Education (vote for 3): Nora M. Artis (NP), Dennis M. Deloatch (NP), John D. Horton (NP), Joanne H. Jones (NP), Shelia J. Porter (NP), Mary C. Wyatt (NP); and

Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (vote for 2): Jimmy Mason (NP), and David Simons (NP).

One-Stop voting will take place at the Hertford County Cooperative Extension Building (301 West Tryon Street, Winton) from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31; 12 noon until 5 p.m. on Oct. 26; and 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Northampton County

County Commissioner (District 3): Chester Johnell Deloatch Sr. (D);

County Commissioner (District 4): Robert V. Carter (D);

County Commissioner (District 5): Fannie P. Greene (D);

Clerk of Superior Court: Laquitta Green Cooper (D);

CountySheriff: Jack Smith (D); and

Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (vote for 2): Gregory Lewis Harris, and Michael S. Taylor.

One-Stop voting locations in Northampton County are:

Board of Elections Office (9495 NC HWY 305, Jackson): 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Oct. 25; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1;

EE Odom Center (221 Craige St., Gaston): 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Oct. 25; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1; and

The Roanoke Center (409 N. Main St., Rich Square): 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Oct. 25; and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 1.

NOTE: Any voter in the Roanoke-Chowan area wishing to vote by mail as an Absentee must request such a ballot by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at the Board of Elections Office in their respective county of residence. Absentee ballots need to be returned on or before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Traditional voters waiting to cast a ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 4 can do so between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at precincts across the four counties.