Although it’s unlikely voter turnout will reach 15 percent, there are second primaries in Beaufort County and across the state Tuesday.
In Beaufort County, eligible voters who live in the 6th District of the N.C. House of Representatives will vote for either Arthur Williams or Mattie Lawson to be the Republican nominee who takes on Democrat Paul Tine in the Nov. 6 election. That election will determine who will represent the 6th District in the state House for a two-year term beginning in January 2013. The 6th District includes most of northern Beaufort County and all of Dare, Hyde and Washington counties.
The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Anita Bullock Branch, deputy director of the Beaufort County Board of Elections, expects voter turnout in the county to below 15 percent.
“There is extra interest in the Arthur Williams-Mattie Lawson race,” she said, adding that interest could push the turnout percentage to double-digits, possibly 13 percent to 15 percent.
As of 1 p.m. Thursday, 363 voters had marked their ballots early.
“That’s good turnout for a second primary,” Branch said Thursday.
In Beaufort County, early voting continues today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Board of Elections office, 1208 Highland Drive, Washington (at the rear of the former Tideland Mental Health building).
Also on the Republican ballot are second primaries to select the GOP nominees for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction.
Dan Forest and Tony Gurley are seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. The GOP nominee takes on Democrat Linda D. Coleman in the Nov. 6 election.
Kenn Garner and Ed Goodwin are seeking the Republican nomination for secretary of state. The winner of that second primary faces incumbent Elaine Marshall in the Nov. 6 election for that Council of State position.
Seeking to be the GOP nominee for superintendent of public instruction are Richard Alexander and John Tedesco. The winner of that second primary takes on incumbent June Atkinson, a Democrat, in the Nov. 6 election for that position.
Richard Morgan and Mike Causey are in a second primary to determine the GOP nominee for insurance commissioner. The winner of that second primary takes on Democratic incumbent Wayne Goodwin for the Council of State post in the Nov. 6 election.
In the lone race on the Democratic ballot in Beaufort County, John C. Brooks and Marlowe Foster are seeking to be that party’s nominee for commissioner of labor. The winner of that second primary takes on incumbent Republican Cheri Berry in the Nov. 6 election.