In-person early voting begins Thursday, October 15 and runs until Saturday, October 31 in Alexander County. There will three early voting sites for your convenience, including the Alexander Senior Center, Bethlehem Community Fire & Rescue Department, and Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Department. Due to COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, please note that the Alexander County Board of Elections is NOT an early voting site.
Significant precautions will be in place to protect voters and workers. These safeguards include: providing for social distancing, including barriers between elections officials and voters at check-in; frequently sanitizing common surfaces, including voting booths; providing single-use pens to mark paper ballots; requiring elections officials to wear face coverings and making masks available to voters who do not bring their own. Voters are not required to wear masks while voting but they are strongly encouraged.
Here are 10 tips to help provide a positive voting experience for all voters:
1. Avoid long lines. The busiest days are the first and last days of the early voting period. The busiest times tend to be between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
2. Alexander County voters can go to any of the three early voting sites during the early voting period. The three sites are: Alexander Senior Center, Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue Department, and Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Department.
3. Take advantage of the evening hours and Saturday opportunities. All three sites are open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The three sites are also open on three Saturdays: October 17 and October 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and October 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
4. Preview all the contests and candidates that will be on your ballot via a sample ballot. Sample ballots are available online and at the board of elections office. Sample ballots can be used as a “study guide” to ensure you are ready to vote.
5. Read the ballot marking instructions carefully and be sure to vote for the correct number of candidates in each contest. Completely fill in the oval because the tabulator may not be able to read check-marks.
6. Voters who need assistance or accommodations at the voting site must request it. Individuals who are unable to enter the voting site may vote curbside. Each voting site will have an accessible voting machine available for use by voters with special needs.
7. Photographing a voted ballot is against the law. (NCGS 163A-1133)
8. You cannot communicate with anyone via voice, text, email, or any other method while inside the voting place; however, you can use electronic devices to access a slate card or candidate information.
9. Voters may bring voting guides, notes, sample ballots, and other materials into the voting booth.
10. Early voting sites offer same-day registration, allowing individuals who aren’t yet registered to register and vote at the same time. A voter must provide proof of residence to same-day register. Proof of residence must show the voter’s current name and address.
For additional information about early voting, visit www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-early-person.
To view sample ballots or for more information, visit the Alexander County Board of Elections webpage at www.alexandercountync.gov/departments/board-of-elections.