Election day is only 19 days away

The countdown is on for the general election on Nov. 5 — only 19 days away. Persons who missed the voter registration deadline can take advantage of same-day voter registration during the early voting period from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 to register and vote. Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and they must be received in the Duplin County Board of Elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.

During the general election Duplin voters will be able to vote for or against a proposed constitutional amendment to provide that “only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age or older and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State.”

“If passed, the proposed amendment would change the language in the State Constitution from “every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age” to the new wording in the referendum,” explained Duplin County Board of Elections Director Carrie Sullivan.

Duplin County voters will also have the opportunity to vote for or against the proposed alcohol referendum, which concerns the on- and off-premises sale of unfortified wine and malt beverages.

This is the second installment of Questions and Answers Sullivan:

1. More than half a million people are currently homeless in the United States. Many are eligible voters but face obstacles registering because of their lack of a stable address or the required ID. What is being done in Duplin County to help these voters navigate the process? State legislature allows for all eligible voters in each county to register where they lay their heads. Once they are registered, all voters are able to come into our office and get a free voter ID. Our office is devoted to ensuring that all eligible voters in Duplin County have the opportunity to cast their vote.

2. Do ID requirements instill more confidence in the legitimacy of the election?
   I believe that ID requirements do instill more confidence in voters with the legitimacy of elections. North Carolinians want to feel secure in the fact that only eligible voters actually vote. Utilizing photo ID requirements reassures voters that everyone can only vote under their own registration.

3. What are your top three priorities as we move closer to November?
   ONE: Keeping voters calm and informed.
   TWO: Giving my team of precinct officials all of the support they need to get through this busy election cycle.
   THREE: Providing a fair and safe environment for the citizens of Duplin County to cast their votes.

4. There has been recent talk about absentee ballot containers, can you clarify if absentee ballots need or don’t need to be returned in sealed container-return envelopes in order to count?  All absentee ballots that are returned via mail should be sealed inside the completed ballot envelope and then sealed in the larger return envelope. Ballots must be sealed inside the envelope in order to be accepted.

For more information, call the Duplin County Board of Elections Office at 910-296-2170.