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Election Day for 2014 Primary is Here, Early Morning Voter Turnout in Watauga ‘Disappointing’ So Far

Joe Calhoun puts on his "I Voted" sticker in the Cove Creek Fire Department polling precinct.
One of the few: Joe Calhoun puts on his “I Voted” sticker in the Cove Creek Fire Department polling precinct. Photos by Jesse Wood

By Jesse Wood

May 6, 2014. While the morning of Election Day is running “very smoothly,” Watauga County Elections Director Jane Ann Hodges said she was “disappointed” with the low voter turnout so far. Her comments came at about 9:30 a.m. – when the polling site located at the Administration Building in downtown Boone had recorded only 22 Election Day voters.

Other voting totals around that timeframe included:

  • Legends in Boone: 8
  • Agricultural Conference Center in Boone: 11
  • Cove Creek Fire Department: 20

“I want to encourage everyone who is eligible to vote,” Hodges said.

Just under 2,300 people early voted in the previous two weeks, a number that Hodges said was higher than comparable election cycles because of the competitive races.

Registered voters of all parties have a reason to vote in the primary, although local Republicans do have more competitive races to decide. For instance, the field of eight candidates in the nonpartisan Watauga County Board of Education will have to be whittled down to six for the general election in November.

Republicans Seth Banks, Nathan Miller and Britt Springer are all running for District Attorney in the 24th. With no Democratic challenger, the primary results will effectively call the DA’s race. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican, is facing Phillip Doyle in the primary. Also, four Republicans are running for two spots on the ballot in the general election for Watauga County Board of Commissioners. Plus, eight GOP candidates are running for the chance at U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s seat.

For more information on Election Day such as ballots, precincts and so forth, look below. For more information on the candidates and races, click to HCPress.com’s “Election Central.”

PRECINCTS FOR ELECTION DAY, TUESDAY MAY 6

Below is a listing of the voting sites for Election Day. The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are unsure where you vote, click to the N.C. State Board of Elections “Voter Lookup” webpage and type in your name to find out where you should vote.

WATAUGA COUNTY PRECINCTS

  1. Bald Mountain at Todd Fire Department
  2. Beaver Dam at Beaver Dam Fire Department
  3. Blowing Rock at Blowing Rock Town Hall
  4. Blue Ridge at Laurel Fork Baptist Church
  5. Boone 1 at Watauga County Admin Building
  6. Boone 2 at Legends
  7. Brushy Fork at Oak Grove Baptist Church
  8. Cove Creek at Western Watauga Community Center
  9. Elk at Stewart Simmons Fire Department
  10. Laurel Creek at Cove Creek Fire Department
  11. Meat Camp at Meat Camp Fire Department
  12. Boone 3 at Agricultural Conference Center
  13. New River 1 at Boone Town Council Chambers
  14. New River 2 at Three Forks Baptist Association
  15. New River 3 at Mutton Crossing
  16. North Fork at Edgar Eller’s Garage
  17. Shawneehaw at Matney Community Center
  18. Stony Fork at Deep Gap Fire Department
  19. Watauga at Foscoe Fire Department
  20. Beech Mountain at Buckeye Recreation Center

AVERY COUNTY PRECINCTS

There are 19 precincts in Avery County. These precincts are listed below:

  • Altamont
  • Banner Elk
  • Beech Mountain
  • Cary’s Flat
  • Cranberry
  • Elk Park
  • Frank
  • Heaton
  • Hughes
  • Ingalls
  • Linville
  • Minneapolis
  • Montezuma
  • Newland 1
  • Newland 2
  • Pineola
  • Plumtree
  • Pyatte
  • Roaring Creek


BALLOTS

Check out the ballots for all parties for the primary below. Remember if you are an unaffiliated, you may choose a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Nonpartisan Ballot. 

Avery County Sample Ballots

Watauga County Sample Ballots

 

Chief Judge Charles Lentz (left to right), GOP Judge Eric Farthing, Dem Judge Ruth Williams and Marsha Fletcher, a computer operator, wait for voters at the Agricultural Center in downtown Boone.
Chief Judge Charles Lentz (left to right), GOP Judge Eric Farthing, Dem Judge Ruth Williams and Marsha Fletcher, a computer operator, wait for voters at the Agricultural Center in downtown Boone.
This morning Judy Geary was compiling "problems" any voters may have with the Agricultural Conference Center site in downtown Boone. A similar sign was also held at Legend's polling place.
This morning Judy Geary was compiling “problems” any voters may have with the Agricultural Conference Center site in downtown Boone. A similar sign was also held at Legend’s polling place.
The Western Watauga Community Center had a steady stream of voters on Tuesday morning.
The Western Watauga Community Center had a steady stream of voters on Tuesday morning.
Greta Houston (left) and Liz Bennett of the Watauga County Democratic Party stood in front of the Administration Building in downtown Boone on Tuesday morning, passing out "Pam's Picks."
Greta Houston (left) and Liz Bennett of the Watauga County Democratic Party stood in front of the Administration Building in downtown Boone on Tuesday morning, passing out “Pam’s Picks.”
Only 22 people had voted in the Administration Building in downtown Boone at about 9:30 a.m., three hours after the polls opened.
Only 22 people had voted in the Administration Building in downtown Boone at about 9:30 a.m., three hours after the polls opened.
A stream of signs at the Cove Creek Fire Department, polling precinct for the Laurel Creek area.
A stream of signs at the Cove Creek Fire Department, polling precinct for the Laurel Creek area.
Joe Calhoun puts on his "I Voted" sticker in the Cove Creek Fire Department polling precinct.
Joe Calhoun puts on his “I Voted” sticker in the Cove Creek Fire Department polling precinct.
Frank Veno, representing the Watauga County Democratic Party, stood in front of the Agricultural Center passing out "Pam's Picks."
Frank Veno, representing the Watauga County Democratic Party, stood in front of the Agricultural Center passing out “Pam’s Picks.”
Matt Klutz, a candidate for GOP commissioner in the primary, stands at the polling precinct at the Western Watauga Community Center.
Matt Klutz, a candidate for GOP commissioner in the primary, stands at the polling precinct at the Western Watauga Community Center.
Chief Judge Charles Lentz (left to right), GOP Judge Eric Farthing, Dem Judge Ruth Williams and Marsha Fletcher, a computer operator, wait for voters at the Agricultural Center in downtown Boone.
Chief Judge Charles Lentz (left to right), GOP Judge Eric Farthing, Dem Judge Ruth Williams and Marsha Fletcher, a computer operator, wait for voters at the Agricultural Center in downtown Boone.
Western Watauga Community Center is one of the polling precincts in the county.
Western Watauga Community Center is one of the polling precincts in the county.
(Left to right) Ollie Jackson, computer operator, Chief Judge Leta Councill, Judge Nancy Henry and Judge Rose Anna Wade wait for voters at the Legend's polling precinct.
(Left to right) Ollie Jackson, computer operator, Chief Judge Leta Councill, Judge Nancy Henry and Judge Rose Anna Wade wait for voters at the Legend’s polling precinct.

 

A car at Meat Camp Fire Department is decked out in favor of Britt Springer for DA. Photo Submitted
A car at Meat Camp Fire Department is decked out in favor of Britt Springer for DA. Photo submitted by Deborah Greene
Jay Fenwick, candidate for Watauga County Board of Education, hopes to persuade voters to vote him in for school board. Photo submitted
Jay Fenwick, candidate for Watauga County Board of Education, hopes to persuade voters to vote him in for school board. Photo submitted by Deborah Greene
Ray Christian, the husband of Tiffany Christian, who is running for school board, stands in front of his truck. Photo submitted
Ray Christian, the husband of Tiffany Christian, who is running for school board, stands in front of his truck. Photo submitted by Deborah Greene