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Second Primary for Elections in Avery, Watauga Counties Features Runoff, Vote on Tuesday Until 7:30 PM

By Jesse Wood

July 11, 2014. For political junkies, a primary in the summertime is like Christmas in July.

Too bad for them, though, there aren’t too many races to analyze. Both Watauga County and Avery County ballots only feature one race. See both below.

One-stop voting for the July 15 primary continues through Saturday, and Election Day is Tuesday, July 15.

See local races below and click here to see all the races in North Carolina.

Avery County July Primary

In Avery County, the only race on the ballot is the runoff between Faye Lacey and incumbent Kenny Poteat for the final seat on the Avery County Board of Commissioners. Lacey requested the runoff after Poteat narrowly received more votes in the May 6 primary.

Poteat came in with 1,176 votes or 12.45 percent, while Lacey garnered 11.84 percent or 1,094 votes. Because the margin was within one percent, Avery County Board of Elections Director Sheila Ollis said that Lacey had the opportunity to request a runoff for July.

Through Friday morning, 199 Avery County residents have early voted on top of 20 absentee ballots.

“It’s been pretty stead,” Caleb Hogan, deputy director with the Avery County Board of Elections, said on Friday morning.

This being a GOP runoff, only registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters that didn’t vote Democratic (request a Democrat ballot) are allowed to vote in this July primary.

Early voting continues until 5 p.m. on Friday and takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. On Election Day Tuesday, the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

See listing of precincts in Avery County here.

Watauga County July Primary

In Watauga County, 160 people have early voted on top of 30 returned absentee ballots, according to staff at the Watauga County Board of Elections.

The featured race is the runoff between Gardenia Henley and Josh Brannon for District 5 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brannon secured more votes than Henley in the May 6 primary, however he didn’t receive more than 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.

Whoever wins will face an uphill battle against longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx.

One-stop voting in Watauga County continues today until 5 p.m. and also takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. On Election Day Tuesday, the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

In Watauga County, only registered Democrats or unaffiliated voters that didn’t vote Republican (request a Republican ballot) are allowed to vote in this July primary.

See list of precincts for Watauga County here.

Note that the Brushy Fork precinct has been moved – temporarily for the July 15 primary – to the AppalCART Conference Room on the N.C. 105 Bypass.

Ballot Avery Ballot