Staff report
With almost 90,000 Rowan County residents eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 election, the early voter turnout is meager thus far.
As of late Friday, a total of 46 voters had opted to use one-stop early voting and cast ballots.
All of the county’s 10 municipalities have elections on Nov. 3, with a total of more than 50 candidates in the races.And all county voters are eligible to vote on whether to add a one-quarter of a cent local sales tax. The tax is expected to produce about $2 million annually to help pay for nearly $20 million of needed projects ó a $6 million jail annex and $12 million-plus for emergency radios, towers and related equipment essential for law enforcement and emergency services.
According to the Elections Office, a total of 89,270 voters are registered in the county. The breakdown shows 36,807 Republicans, 33,120 Democrats and 19,301 unaffiliated.
All of the municipal elections, as well as the tax referendum, are non-partisan.
The Rowan County Board of Elections began offering early voting at the Innes Street office last week.
Starting this week, one-stop early voting will be available at the Elections Office, 130 W. Innes St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Two other sites will be open on Friday and Saturday this week. Hours at both sides will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. These sites are:
– East site ó Rowan Public Library, 110 Broad St., Rockwell.
– South site ó Tadlock South Regional Library, 920 Kimball Road, China Grove.
All three sites will be open Monday through Friday Oct. 26-31. Hours for the sites during that period are:
– Elections Office ó 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
– East and South sites ó 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 26-30.