Primary Polls Open In Brunswick County, Nc

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Brunswick County, North Carolina, will hold a second primary election. This election will determine the Republican candidates for Lieutenant Governor and State Auditor. The second primary was requested after no candidate in the first primary received more than 30% of the vote. Unaffiliated voters who did not vote in the first primary, as well as those who voted in the Republican primary, are eligible to vote in this election. Early voting began on April 25 and ended on May 11. Brunswick County residents can vote in person or by absentee ballot, which must be requested online.

Republican Lieutenant Governor

The 2024 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the lieutenant governor of North Carolina. The incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor, Mark Robinson, is eligible to seek re-election for a second term but has decided to run for governor instead. With no candidate receiving more than 30% of the vote in the Republican primary, a runoff was held on May 14, 2024, to determine the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

The candidates for the Republican nomination were:

• Hal Weatherman, businessman and former chief of staff to then-lieutenant governor Dan Forest
• Jim O'Neill, Forsyth County District Attorney and nominee for attorney general in 2020
• Deanna Ballard, former state senator from the 45th district
• Peter Boykin, political commentator and founder of Gays for Trump
• Rivera Douthit, evangelist
• Jeffrey Elmore, state representative from the 94th district
• Allen Mashburn, pastor
• Marlenis Hernandez Novoa, paramedic and firefighter
• Sam Page, Rockingham County sheriff
• Ernest T. Reeves, businessman and perennial candidate
• Seth Woodall, attorney

Hal Weatherman won the Republican lieutenant governor's race in the second primary election, receiving 74% of the vote. Jim O'Neill came in second with 26% of the vote. Weatherman will now face Democrat Rachel Hunt and Libertarian Dee Watson in the general election.

Republican State Auditor

The 2024 primary election in Brunswick County, North Carolina, featured a crowded field of Republican candidates vying for the state auditor position. The Republican primary for this office was particularly competitive, with six candidates in the running. The candidates included Dave Boliek, Jack Clark, Charles Dingee, Jeff Tarte, Jim Kee, and Anthony Wayne (Tony) Street. The race gained further attention as it led to a rare second primary, triggered when no candidate in the initial primary received more than 30% of the vote.

The Republican primary for state auditor in Brunswick County, NC, showcased a diverse array of candidates with varying backgrounds and platforms. Dave Boliek, an attorney and member of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, emphasised his experience in managing investments and his commitment to "looking after taxpayer dollars." Jack Clark, a former private sector auditor, highlighted his master's degree in accounting and certification as a public accountant. Charles Dingee, a banker, campaigned on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and community service. Jeff Tarte, a former state senator, touted his legislative experience and success in uncovering financial discrepancies. Jim Kee, with an economics background, focused on financial integrity and compliance. Tony Street, with degrees in geography and public administration, had previously served on the Brunswick County Soil & Water Board.

The initial primary election on March 5, 2024, resulted in a close contest between the top two finishers, Jack Clark and Dave Boliek, who received 23.2% and 22.1% of the vote, respectively. Since neither candidate secured more than 30% of the vote, Boliek, as the second-place finisher, was entitled to request a second primary. This triggered a rare occurrence, as second primaries are not common in North Carolina politics. The second primary, held on May 14, 2024, saw a tighter race, with Boliek ultimately defeating Clark by a margin of 53.1% to 46.9%.

The Republican primary for state auditor in Brunswick County, NC, was a hard-fought contest that engaged a range of candidates and issues. The initial primary and the subsequent second primary highlighted the importance of voter engagement and the complex dynamics of the electoral process. With the Republican nomination secured by Dave Boliek, he will now face Democrat Jessica Holmes and Libertarian Bob Drach in the general election, setting the stage for a competitive race to determine who will become North Carolina's next state auditor.

Voting methods

There are three voting methods available to Brunswick County, North Carolina voters. The first is to request a ballot and have it mailed to you. The last day to request a ballot for the second primary election is Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The ballot must be returned by 7:30 pm on Election Day, May 14, 2024. This can be done by mail or by voting in the presence of two witnesses who are at least 18 or a notary.

The second method is early in-person voting. Voters may cast their ballot at any early voting site in their county prior to election day. Early voting for the second primary election begins on Thursday, April 25, and ends on Saturday, May 11. The hours for early voting vary by location but include weekdays, typically from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, with some locations offering additional hours on Saturday, May 11, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The third method is voting in person on Election Day, May 14, 2024. On Election Day, registered voters must vote at their designated precinct, which can be found using the Voter Lookup Tool, the registration card mailed to them when they registered, or by calling the Board of Elections office. The polls are open from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm.

Voter registration

To vote in the Brunswick County, NC primary elections, you must be registered to vote in Brunswick County, North Carolina. To register to vote in the county, you must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Brunswick County, North Carolina, for 30 days before the election in which you intend to vote, be 18 years of age or older by the next general election day, and not be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision, or parole.

If you are a DMV customer with an NC driver's license or DMV-issued ID, you can register to vote or update your address or party affiliation online. You can also print a Voter Registration Form and return it to the Brunswick County office. If you are a new registrant, you must send the original form by mail or drop it off in person. If you are already registered in the county and are making updates to your information, you can return the form by email or fax.

There are three ways to vote in North Carolina: absentee mail, early voting, and election day voting. Any registered voter in Brunswick County may vote by absentee ballot. Early voting allows any registered voter to cast a ballot in person on select days before Election Day at any early voting site in the county. On Election Day, registered voters can only vote at their specific precinct.

If you miss the voter registration deadline and have been a resident of the county for 30 days before the election, you can go to any early voting site to register and vote on the same day. You will be required to provide acceptable proof of residence. Same-day registration is not available during the second primary election or on Election Day.

Early voting

During the early voting period, eligible individuals could also register to vote and vote at the same time. This process is called “same-day registration”. Although same-day registration was available for voters during early voting, it was not available for most voters on Election Day.

Frequently asked questions