Elections

NC primary Tuesday features congressional and court contests

By Lynn Bonner

lbonner@newsobserver.com
Two Durham NC voters at center move toward the voting booths after getting their ballots during primary day voting Tuesday mid-morning, June 7, 2016 at the Pearsontown Elementary School precinct in southeastern Durham, NC. Pearsontown precinct Chief Judge Michael Williams said that 50 voters had cast ballots by 10am Tuesday out of a total over about 3,000 registered voters there. This was not taking into account the absentee and early voters who had already cast ballots.
Two Durham NC voters at center move toward the voting booths after getting their ballots during primary day voting Tuesday mid-morning, June 7, 2016 at the Pearsontown Elementary School precinct in southeastern Durham, NC. Pearsontown precinct Chief Judge Michael Williams said that 50 voters had cast ballots by 10am Tuesday out of a total over about 3,000 registered voters there. This was not taking into account the absentee and early voters who had already cast ballots. Harry Lynch hlynch@newsobserver.com
RALEIGH

Voters in parts of North Carolina will decide Tuesday who will represent their parties in November contests for U.S. Congress.

Statewide, voters will be able to choose one of four candidates for a Supreme Court seat, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the fall ballot.

WHY NOW? The unusual voting date is the result of a federal court ruling that required the legislature to redraw district boundaries in February.

TURNOUT: It’s expected to be low. About 86,000 people have voted so far: 73,470 at one-stop sites and 12,562 by mail, according to the state Board of Elections. There will be no runoff, so some contests could be decided by small numbers of votes.

VOTER ID: A photo ID law is in effect, so bring an acceptable form of ID if you have it. There are ways to vote provisionally without an ID. Information at voterid.nc.gov.

POLLS: Open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

RACES TO WATCH: The Republican 2nd Congressional District primary has attracted national attention because it’s the only place where two incumbents oppose each other.

Rep. Renee Ellmers of Dunn, Rep. George Holding of Raleigh and Greg Brannon, a Cary obstetrician, are competing. Conservative interest groups have gravitated to Holding. Ellmers has the endorsement of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has recorded a robocall for her.

The GOP 3rd District primary is a rematch between veteran Rep. Walter Jones of Farmville and Taylor Griffin. Griffin, a staffer in former President George W. Bush’s administration, came close to forcing a runoff in 2014. Phil Law, a Marine Corps veteran, is also in the race.

A 13th District spectacle features 17 GOP candidates and five Democrats. The district has no incumbent. The legislature created the open seat in the redistricting.

Lynn Bonner: 919-829-4821, @Lynn_Bonner

This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 8:14 PM with the headline "NC primary Tuesday features congressional and court contests."

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