By Liz Moomey
liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Friday was the last day of early voting, and turnout for this year’s municipal elections has already surpassed that of 2017.

A total of 2,376 voters cast ballots early through one-stop or absentee voting, or 6.18% of eligible Rowan County voters. Nov. 1 saw the highest turnout, with 286 voters.

Meanwhile, in the 2017 election, 1,614 people voted early.

Isha Holmes, of Salisbury, said she has voted early for the past two elections, which has allowed her to get it out of the way and not feel like she’s rushed on Election Day.

Holmes said she used to vote with a guide made by her mother, but now she votes for the candidates she personally feels are best.

“I look more at the record of what they spoke for and did,” Holmes said.

Timothy Bates also voted early, calling it a quick and easy process. He said it’s important to vote and that voices are heard.

He said there are great Salisbury City Council candidates running, but he gave his vote to those who are concentrating on providing education opportunities for youths and housing and are diverse and for an inclusive community.

“I go off with not what they say but what they are doing,” Bates said.

Early voter Teresa Kay, of Salisbury, said the top issues were crime and change. The one-stop voting was easy and she didn’t have to worry about waiting. Kay said she will be on vacation on Election Day as well.

Salisbury City Council candidate Giannina Monzon and East Spencer alderman candidate Shawn Rush campaigned throughout the one-stop voting period in the parking lot of the Rowan County Board of Elections Office, handing out information, talking to voters about their concerns and trying to get a last-minute vote.

Monzon said she took off from work to make an extra effort to meet the voters. She said it’s important to go to the people instead of waiting for them to come to you. She said she learned that voters want unity and no tax increases. Monzon said she also was able to get to know other municipal leaders like Rush.

Rush said he wanted to meet voters, and he plans to be at the East Spencer precinct on Election Day.

“It showed them how passionate I am for serving,” Rush said, adding it shows the importance of voting whether it’s for him or not.

One-stop voting went smoothly, according to Rowan County Elections Deputy Director Tracy Speaks. Now, the office is preparing for Election Day on Tuesday. Voters will go to their designated precincts to cast ballots. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rowan County precincts and polling places include:

• Blackwelder Park: Blackwelder Park Baptist Church’s Kannapolis choir room, 2204 Summit Ave.

• China Grove: China Grove Community Building, 412 S. Myrtle Ave.

• Cleveland: Town Hall, 302 E. Main St.

• Faith: Faith American Legion, 1015 Gantt St.

• Milford Hills County: West Rowan Middle School, 5925 Statesville Blvd., Salisbury.

• Granite Quarry: Granite Quarry Municipal Building, 143 N. Main St. (U.S. 52).

• West Kannapolis: St. John’s Reformed Church, 901 N. Main St., Kannapolis.

• East Kannapolis: Jackson Park Elementary School, 1400 Jackson St., Kannapolis.

• East Spencer: Municipal Building, 105 S. Long St.

• Landis: Rowan Public Library South Branch 920 Kimball Road, China Grove.

• Rockwell: Rockwell American Legion Building, 8580 U.S. 52.

• Spencer: Municipal Building, 600 S. Salisbury Ave.

• Sumner: Rowan County Agricultural Building, 2727 Old Concord Road, Salisbury.

• West Ward II/North Locke: Maupin Avenue Presbyterian Church, 100 Maupin Ave., Salisbury.

• West Ward I: Rowan Public Library Headquarters Branch, 201 W. Fisher St., Salisbury.

• South Ward: Salisbury Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Salisbury.

• East Ward/Hatters Shop: Park Avenue Community Center, 632 Park Ave., Salisbury.

• West Innes/Ellis: Knox Middle School, 1625 Park Road W., Salisbury.

• North Ward: City Park Recreational Building, 316 Lake Drive, Salisbury.

• Milford Hills City/Franklin: Isenberg Elementary School, 2800 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury.

• West Ward III: Miller Recreation Center, 1402 W. Bank St., Salisbury.

No voting will take place at the Board of Elections Office on Tuesday.

No one will be able to register to vote Tuesday.

Curbside voting will be available at all polling places.

Speaks said voters should ensure they have the correct polling place because some precincts have been combined. Voters can look up their assigned polling place and a sample ballot at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.