Early voting underway in primary runoff
Early voting in the primary runoff for the District 3 U.S. Congressional special election got underway on Wednesday.
Election day for the runoff between Kinston’s Dr. Joan Perry and Dr. Greg Murphy of Greenville is July 9, but early voting will continue for the rest of June. The race is to fill the U.S. House seat that became open when longtime Representative Walter B. Jones passed away earlier this year.
Perry and Murphy are facing off for the Republican nomination and the chance to go up against former Greenville mayor Allen Thomas, Libertarian Tim Harris and Constitutional Party candidate Greg Holt in the general election in September.
Lenoir County Elections Supervisor Amy Morgan said the first day of early voting was surprisingly busy, and that trend was continuing later in the week.
Morgan said that more people voted on Wednesday at only one location than voted in the first day of early voting for the April primary at three locations.
“We were actually kind of blown away yesterday. I think the turnout has been really good,” Morgan said.
By contrast, Jones County Elections Director Jennifer King said very few people had taken advantage of the first two days of early voting in her county.
“It has been so, so slow. We’ve had 14 voters so far,” King said.
Voting was also moving at a slow pace in Greene County, according to elections officials.
Anyone who is registered as a Republican is eligible to vote in the primary runoff, according to Morgan. Additionally, anyone who is registered as an independent or unaffiliated voter who either voted in the April 30 Republican primary or did not vote in that election is eligible to vote in the runoff. Registered Democrats, or unaffiliated voters who voted in the Democratic or Libertarian primaries, are not eligible.
Early voting in Lenoir County will continue Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the county’s Board of Elections, 110-C Herritage St. in Kinston, through July 5, with the exception of July 4.
The early voting location in Jones County is the Jones County Board of Elections, 367 NC Hwy 58 in Trenton. Hours are from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Monday-Friday through July 5, with the exception of July 4.
The Greene County Board of Elections, 110 SE First St. in Snow Hill, will have early voting from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday through July 5, with the exception of July 4.
