1000 x 90

Voters in Blowing Rock, Beech and Seven Devils Must Vote in County of Residence

By Jesse Wood

If you live in Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain or Seven Devils, you might have to vote in a different location for the 2015 municipal elections than you have voted at during past elections.

Beginning this election season, the N.C. State Board of Elections (SBOE) will only allow registered voters to vote in the county of residence. Citizens, however, can still submit an absentee ballot before Tuesday, Oct. 27 and return it by Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.,

So if you are one of 47 registered voters that live on the Caldwell County side of Blowing Rock, you must vote in Caldwell County – and not in Blowing Rock on Election Day or at the Watauga County Administration Building during early voting.

The same goes for Beech Mountain and Seven Devils, which straddles both Avery and Watauga counties.

Blowing Rock residents that live in Caldwell County have three options, according to Watauga County Board of Elections Director Matt Snyder.

  • Request an absentee ballot
  • Vote during One-Stop early voting in Caldwell County at either:
    – Caldwell County Library – 120 Hospital Ave, Lenoir
    – Caldwell County Office Building – 905 West Ave, Lenoir
    – Shuford Recreation – 51 Pinewood Rd, Granite Falls
  • Vote on Election Day at the Caldwell County Board of Elections Office – 905 West Ave, Lenoir

Snyder said that Beech Mountain and Seven Devils residents that live in Avery County also have three options:

  • Request an absentee ballot
  • Vote during One-Stop early voting in Avery County at the Avery County Board of Elections Office in Newland
  • Vote on Election Day at the Banner Elk Town Hall at 200 Park Ave

Avery County Board of Elections Director Sheila Ollis said that 70 combined registered voters in Beech Mountain and Seven Devils actually reside on the Avery County side.

“The Avery County voters who reside in these towns will go to the Banner Elk Town Hall where they always have voted during county/state/federal elections,” Ollis said. “Of course, we always have a one-stop site here in our office that anyone in any of the towns may vote early if they choose and or vote absentee by mail.”

Registered voters in Avery and Watauga County have three options:

  • Request an absentee ballot
  • Early vote in your county at the elections office in Newland or at the Administration Building in Boone
  • Vote at normal polling place on Election Day

For more information or if you have questions, contact Watauga County Board of Elections at 828-265-8061 or the Avery County Board of Elections at 828-733-8282.