The time has come to get ready to vote! The North Carolina 2008 Primary Election, including local, state and federal races, takes place on Tuesday, May 6. In preparation, if you need to register, verify or update your registration, you may do so at the Buncombe County Election Services Office, 189 College St. in downtown Asheville (or phone 250-4200 for an application). Registration is also available at various social service agencies and at all of the Buncombe County library sites. To vote at your precinct on May 6, you must be registered by April 11.
One-Stop Early Voting in Buncombe County, however, will allow you to register and vote on the same day. There are 10 early voting sites: Asheville Senior Opportunity Center on Grove Street; Biltmore Square Mall; the Election Services Office; Carver Community Center in Black Mountain; Weaverville Town Hall; and the Fairview, Leicester, North Asheville, South Buncombe and West Asheville libraries. Early voting takes place April 17 through May 3. If you plan to register at that time, you must bring a form of ID that gives your Buncombe County residence address (a driver’s license, utility bill etc.).
If you want to do more than vote, the Board of Elections is currently accepting applications for poll workers to work five-hour shifts at the 10 early voting locations, and to cover the May 6 election day. Contact Larry Hibbs at the Buncombe County Personnel Office, 250-4216, or visit the county’s Web site at www.buncombecounty.org to download an application.
• March 25: WNC for Change, the local grassroots effort to elect Barack Obama, meets this and every Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Hill Street Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 135 Hill St. in Asheville. All volunteers welcome; for information, e-mail wnc4change@yahoo.com.
• March 25: Social gathering for Obama, this and every Tuesday night, 7 p.m., at Asheville Brewing Company on Coxe Avenue. All are welcome.
• March 26: Fred Smith for Governor Rallies—Buncombe County, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Asheville Ballroom and Dance Centre, 991-B Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville; Henderson County, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Bo Thomas Auditorium of Blue Ridge Community College (180 West Campus Drive) in Flat Rock. Everyone will be admitted, but a minimum donation of $25 is suggested. To reserve space, call 1-877-278-3535 or sign up online at www.joinfred.com.
• March 27: Hillary Clinton for President Meet-up to begin planning for the May 6 Primary. Atlantic Bread Company, 633 Merrimon Ave., from 7 to 8 p.m.; open to all, no charge.
• April 9-15: Half-day, weeklong training period for workers at one-stop early voting sites.
• April 11: Last day to make changes or register to be able to vote on May 6. (See details above for early voting.)
• April 17-May 3: One-Stop Early Voting (see locations above).
• May 6: Primary Election.
We’d like to hear from any and all candidates/campaigners regarding events that are open to the public, and we’ll list them in our print calendar as well as on our Web site (www.mountainx.com). Please send the following information to nholder@mountainx.com: name of event and candidate; time, place and date of event; contact name and phone number; whether the event is free or what cost is involved.
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