Did you know that there is a second primary election, also known as a “runoff” election, coming up in Buncombe County?
All Democrat and Republican voters may vote in this election. Many unaffiliated voters may vote in this second primary as well, with a few important restrictions:
-Unaffiliated voters who voted Democrat in the first primary may only vote Democrat in the second primary.
-Unaffiliated voters who voted Republican in the first primary may only vote Republican in the second primary.
-Unaffiliated voters who voted Unaffiliated in the first primary may not vote in the second primary.
Unaffiliated voters who did not vote in the first primary may vote in the second primary and vote their choice of ballot (either Republican or Democrat).
Unaffiliated voters who voted “Unaffiliated” in the May primary election may not vote in the second primary; Unaffiliated voters who did not vote in the May primary may vote in the second primary.
Unaffiliated voters who voted either Democrat or Republican in the May primary may vote in the second primary, but they must pick the same party ballot they picked during the May primary. (For example, if an unaffiliated voter voted in the Republican primary in May, he or she may only vote in the Republican second primary this July.)
All precincts will be open the usual election hours on Tuesday, July 17th, from 6:30am-7:30pm. Just go to your usual precinct to vote on Election Day. (Not sure where to vote? Look up your precinct here.)
One stop early voting will also be available at the Board of Elections office on 35 Woodfin Street from June 28, 2012 through July 14. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. on July 14. There will be no early voting available on July 4th.
Who’s on the ballot? 
Well, that depends!
The Democratic ballot is pretty simple. There is only one race on that ballot: a runoff for the NC Commissioner of Labor. The only two candidates on the ballot are Marlowe Foster and John C. Brooks. You may vote for one.
The Republican ballot has a few more choices. There are up to five races on this ballot in Buncombe County: US House of Representatives in District 11, as well as four statewide races: Lieutenant Governor, NC Commissioner of Insurance, NC Secretary of State, and NC Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The candidates are as follows:
US House of Representatives in District 11:
Lieutenant Governor:
NC Commissioner of Insurance:
NC Secretary of State:
NC Superintendent of Public Instruction:
Click here to view a sample ballot. Just enter your first and last name and then click “submit.”
Confused? Not sure if you can vote or which ballot you may pick? Send an email to president@ablwv.org and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you may have! For more election information, visit the League’s website at ablwv.org
Karen Oelschlaeger is the president of the Asheville–Buncombe League of Women Voters
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