With the advent of Non-Stop Early Voting (Oct. 16 through Nov. 1) and its proven popularity in recent elections, the Mountain Xpress will offer its Voter Guide edition a little earlier than usual. Look for it next week, Oct. 22, with the results of our surveys of candidates for the U.S. Congress, the N.C. House and Senate, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and for Board of Commissioners chair—plus other election information.
Two other voter guides regarding statewide elections on the general ballot are available from the N.C. Board of Elections (“N.C. Public Funding Programs 2008 General Election Voter Guide,” available online at www.sboe.state.nc.us) and from the nonprofit Democracy North Carolina (“The 2008 Complete Non-Partisan No-Excuses Guide to Voting in NC,” available at www.2008ElectionConnection.com).
The NCBOE’s 24-page guide was mailed to every household in the state, offering biographical information on the nonpartisan candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals—funded by the N.C. Public Campaign Fund; and for the candidates for state auditor, commissioner of insurance, and superintendent of public instruction—funded by the N.C. Voter-Owned Elections Fund. Additionally, the guide provides information on registering, voting and voting accessibility.
Democracy NC’s guide provides answers to common voting questions (What if I changed my name? What if I’m a student? Why should I vote?), plus brief biographies and campaign priorities for the candidates for the presidency and the U.S. Senate, as well as North Carolina’s governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, treasurer, commissioners of agriculture and insurance and labor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, and the statewide judicial positions. It also contains guides to additional information such as tracking campaign contributions or learning more about the state’s political parties, information on a number of statewide citizen-oriented organizations, and a copy of the N.C. Voter Bill of Rights.
The guide lists a special toll-free Election Protection Hotline for anyone encountering problems at the polls with which they need help or which they want to report: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683).
To review the ballot that will serve your precinct before going to vote, samples are available online at www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/Election/sampleBallots.htm. When voting, remember the ballot is two-sided, so turn it over!
Wednesday, Oct. 15: Debate Watching Party at Buncombe County GOP Headquarters, 46 Haywood St., beginning with phone banking at 6 p.m.; debate starts at 9.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Buncombe Board of Commissioners candidate Ray Bailey’s barbecue fundraiser at the Taylor Ranch, with music by Tuxedo Junction, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Contact 628-2598.
Saturday, Oct. 18: Democratic candidates for Buncombe Board of Commissioners meet and greet over breakfast at Reynolds High School, 8 to 10 a.m.; call 274-4482.
Monday, Oct. 20: Candidates forum for Buncombe Board of Commissioners and board chair, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, 7 p.m. at the Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville. Co-sponsors include Children First and Kids Voting.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Meet and Greet for Buncombe Board of Commissioners chairman candidate David Gantt and N.C. House candidate Jane Whilden, hosted by Democratic Precinct 31 at the Biltmore Forest Town Hall, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; contact 442-9252.
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Citizens for McCain meeting at Atlanta Bread Company, 633 Merrimon Ave., 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 22: The Mountain Xpress Voter Guide appears in the newspaper and online (at mountainx.com).
Monday, Oct. 27: Candidates forum for N.C. Senate District 49 and House Districts 114, 115 and 116 candidates, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, 7 p.m. at the Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville. Co-sponsors include Children First and Kids Voting.
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Citizens for McCain meeting at Atlanta Bread Company, 633 Merrimon AVe., 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Deadline for receipt of requests for absentee ballots by the Board of Elections is 5 p.m., Oct. 28.
Wednesday, Oct. 29: To vote or not to vote? That is the discussion question at Warren Wilson College at 7 p.m. in Canon Lounge (in the cafeteria building).
Saturday, Nov. 1: Meet-and-greet breakfast for Democratic candidates for Buncombe Board of Commissioners, 8 to 9:30 a.m., at Asheville High School Cafeteria; contact 274-4482.
Saturday, Nov. 1: One-Stop Voting ends at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Election Day! Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For information about voter registration, absentee ballots or other election questions, call your county board of elections (in Buncombe County, call 250-4200). Send calendar listings of events open to the public in writing to Nelda Holder at nholder@mountainx.com, or PO Box 144, Asheville NC 28802.
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