If you haven’t made it to the polls yet, don’t let anything stand in your way today.
Is transportation an issue? Call the local Republican or Democratic party offices and ask for a ride.
Pressed for time because of your job? Take your lunch break early and eat while you stand in line. The lowest volume of voters waiting to vote will most likely be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On its busiest days, the one-stop voting could be done in the course of an hour. If Election Day turns out to be a beast, employers should treat those “I voted” stickers as a “get out of jail free” card and let the tardiness slide.
Bring a sample ballot. You know whom you want to see in the White House for the next four years. You may even know which county commissioner has earned your vote.
Don’t forget to give some thought to who you would like to see win the judicial races. Two candidates for the state’s insurance commissioner’s post are also on the ballot. You can find a state voter’s guide with candidate profiles on the Beaufort County Board of Elections website: www.beaufortncboe.org.
If you run into problems or have any questions today, call the Election Protection Hotline (1-866-687-8683). The hotline is the product of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. At www.866ourvote.org, you will find an app for your smartphone. The app will allow you to verify your registration, look up polling places, review voting rules and regulations for North Carolina, see what type of ballot you will be using and get answers to voting problems quickly.