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Voters who wish to cast their ballots early can do so beginning on Thursday, Oct. 17 and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 2.

During the early voting period, voters can cast their ballot at any early voting site within their county of residence. As in previous elections and primaries, photo ID is required for all voters.

Additionally, eligible local residents who are not already registered to vote can still do so during the early voting period. Residents must provide a current valid ID as proof of residency. ID must show your name and current residential address.

Times, dates, and locations for early voting vary from county to county.

Bertie County voters have three locations available for early voting: Bertie County Board of Elections Office (210 W. Watson Street, Windsor), Lewiston Fire Department (103 W. Church Street, Lewiston-Woodville), and Powellsville Town Hall (106 E. Main Street, Powellsville).

Those sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the early voting period. They will also be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on three Saturdays (Oct. 19, Oct. 26, and Nov. 2).

For more information, contact Bertie’s elections office at 252-794-5306.

In Gates County, the only early voting site will be the Board of Elections Office, located at 25 Medical Center Road, Gates. That site will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the early voting period. They will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays (Oct. 19, Oct. 26, and Nov. 2). Voters also have one Sunday available to cast their ballots: Sunday, Oct. 27 from 12 noon until 4 p.m.

For more information, call Gates County Board of Elections at 252-357-1780.

Hertford County will have two early voting sites available: Hertford County Board of Elections Office (418 Everett Street, Ahoskie) and the Murfree Center (201 E. Broad Street, Murfreesboro).

Those sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the early voting period. They will open on just one Saturday (Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

For more information, call Hertford County’s Election office at 252-358-7812.

Northampton County voters will have three early voting locations: Northampton County Cultural and Wellness Center (9536 NC Hwy 305, Jackson), Bishop W.I. Welch Community Center (101 Cherry Street, Gaston), and Creecy Gymnasium (210 Roberts Road, Rich Square).

Those sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the early voting period. They will not be open on Saturdays except for Nov. 2 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

For more information, call Northampton’s Board of Elections office at 252-534-5681.

A number of races will be on the ballot this year. Many local races include seats for Board of Commissioner, Register of Deeds, Board of Education, and Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor. The latter two races are nonpartisan.

Candidates in local races in Bertie County include the following:

Board of Commissioners – District 1: J. Willie Davis, Jr. (Republican), Lewis (L.C.) Hoggard III (Democrat)

Board of Commissioners – District 4: Vivian B. Saunders (Democrat), John Trent (Unaffiliated)

Register of Deeds: Annie F. Wilson (Democrat)

Board of Education – District 1: Regina B. Harmon, Reba Cooper Carlton

Board of Education – District 5: Tarsha Bush Dudley

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: John M. Griffin

Candidates in local races in Gates County include the following:

Board of Commissioners – Hobbsville District: Linda Hofler (Democrat), Nathan Berryman (Republican)

Board of Commissioners – Sunbury District: Dave Forsythe (Republican), Althea Riddick (Democrat)

Register of Deeds: Mary Cathy Horton (Democrat)

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: E. Boykin Hudgins, Jr.

Local candidates in Hertford County include the following:

Board of Commissioners – District 1: John D. Horton (Democrat)

Board of Commissioners – District 2: Ronald J. Gatling (Democrat)

Board of Commissioners – District 3: William (Bill) Mitchell, Jr. (Democrat)

Register of Deeds: La’Tia Lewter Wynn (Unaffiliated)

Board of Education (two seats available): Dorian Daniels, Jerri Jones Duck, Caroline Eure, Ray Faircloth, Jr., Eddie Hall, J. Wendell Hall, Tiffanty Stephens, Rodney O. Tann

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Pate Pierce

Candidates in local races in Northampton County include the following:

Board of Commissioners – District 1: Keith Hugh Edwards (Democrat), Beth B. Phillips (Unaffiliated)

Board of Commissioners – District 2: Keedra Whitaker (Democrat)

Register of Deeds: Robin Phillips Williams (Democrat)

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: William M. Stephenson

There are several district, state, and federal races on this year’s ballot as well.

Those races include President/Vice President, US House (District 1), NC Governor, NC Lieutenant Governor, NC Attorney General, NC Auditor, NC Agriculture Commissioner, NC Insurance Commissioner, NC Labor Commissioner, NC Secretary of State, NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, NC Treasurer, NC Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 6), NC Court of Appeals Judge (Seat 12, Seat 14, Seat 15), NC Senate (District 1), NC House (District 23 – Bertie; District 5 – Hertford and Gates; District 27 – Northampton), and several NC District Court Judge seats.

Voters who choose not to cast their ballots early will have to wait until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voting precincts will be open that day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

More information about voting can be found on the State Board of Elections website: ncsbe.gov