Voter registration has been vigorous ahead of this November’s presidential election; Watauga County Elections Director Jane Hodges said more than 5,000 new voter registrations have been completed in the county since Aug. 1.

If you’ve moved since the last time you updated your voter registration, save yourself the hassle and contact the Watauga County Board of Elections now, Hodges said.

“Hurry and get registered,” she said. “Registration and change of address ends on Oct. 12.”

You may register to vote in Watauga County if you are a citizen of the United States, a person 18 years of age or older, a person 17 years of age who will be 18 by the date of the general election and a legal resident of Watauga County.

You need to update your registration if you have moved within Watauga County since you registered, have changed your name or wish to change your party affiliation.

A voter registration card will be mailed to you that lists the location of your voting place and the district in which you reside.

 

Early voting begins Oct. 18

Early voting will take place from Oct. 18 to Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Watauga County Board of Elections office at the courthouse on King Street.

A second early voting location will open at the Appalachian State University Plemmons Student Union on weekdays from Oct. 22 to Nov. 2 on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A new early voting site will be located at the Foscoe Fire Department on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and 2 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“It’s great because not everybody can make it downtown,” said Watauga County Republican Party Chairman Matt Snyder. “We always do encourage folks to get out and vote early. Up here, you never know with the weather and everything else.”

Residents who miss the Oct. 12 registration deadline will have an additional opportunity to register during the early voting period. Registration will not take place on Election Day.

In 2008, a majority of early voters in North Carolina were registered Democrats. According to the State Board of Elections, 1.3 million ballots were from Democrats, 673,044 were from Republicans, 444,687 were unaffiliated and 1,696 were Libertarian.

For more information, stop by the Board of Elections office or call (828) 265-8061.