Janet H. Odell, Director



 

Board of Elections
Rockingham County, N.C. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 


 

"Elections are fundamental to Democracy. They are the crucial steps by which citizens come together for a common goal: to select our representatives - our leaders - who will address our Nation's and State's concerns for today and for the future."
-N.C. State Board of Elections

The Rockingham County Board of Elections is the agency charged at the local level with responsibility for administering the elections process in Rockingham County. We strive to ensure the fair and equal application of election laws for all participants in the electoral process.

We hope that you find this site contains useful information that helps you take an informed role in the democratic process.


Wright, Reece, Robertson

Board of Elections Members (Terms expire 2009)
Charles E. (Gene) Robertson, Chairman: 
PO Box 584, Eden, NC  27289
Phone:  627-0498
Toni K. Reece:  PO Box 264, Eden, NC  27289
Phone:  627-0446
Rachel Wright:
  556 Glovenia St., Eden NC  27288
Phone:  623-2881

Janet H. Odell-Director of Elections:  PO Box 208 Wentworth, NC  27375-0208
Phone:  342-8107  Fax:  342-8228

Am I Eligible to Vote?
You may register to vote in Rockingham County if you are:

17 year old rule:    Seventeen-year olds who will be 18 by or on General Election Day may register to vote no 
earlier than 60 days nor later than 25 days prior to the Primary and vote in their party’s Primary Election. 
After the Primary Election, 17 year olds who will be 18 by or on General Election Day may register to vote, 
but may only vote in Primaries until they are 18 years of age.

How do I register to vote?
Rockingham has free, permanent and continuous registration. You need to register, change address or re-register ONLY if you;

A voter registration card will be mailed to you once your registration application has been processed or a change is made to your registration. They are mailed weekly. Keep the card, as it may be used to change your address by mail should you move, change your name or change you party. It can also be used to cancel your Rockingham County registration should you move out of the County.

A registration form must be postmarked 25 days before an election or delivered to the Board of Elections no later than 25 days before an election in order to be valid for that election. A registration may be placed in the "Inactive" status if a voter card is returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable.

You may obtain registration forms at the following locations:

In addition, you may change your address by filling out the back of your registration card and returning it to the Board of Elections. (CARD MUST BE POSTMARKED 25 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION OR RECEIVED IN THE ELECTIONS OFFICE BY 5:00 PM, 25 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION.

Where do I vote?
You will be assigned a voting location within the precinct in which you live. A precinct will be assigned by our office when you register or change address and you will be notified by mail. You will receive a voter registration card before any election if you are a new voter or have made changes since the last election. The voter card will indicate the name and location of your voting location. You may also telephone the Elections Office for information about where you vote.. (342-8107)

Rockingham County Precincts and Voting Locations

What Parties does the N.C. State Board of Elections recognize?
The N.C. State Board of Elections recognizes the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties.  

What are the Types of Elections?
Types of Elections:

A Primary Election is a partisan election in which candidates are nominated by their parties.  The nominees selected by each party are then placed on the ballot for the General Election.  If more than one candidate files for the same office and is of the same party and only one person may be elected to that office, a primary will be held.  The same holds true for an office where there are two seats.  If more than two people file for nomination for the same office in one party and only two may be elected, a primary will be held.  If you register with a party, you may vote only in that party’s Primary Election.  Voters who have registered Unaffiliated are currently permitted to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party’s Primary Elections.

 

A General Election is a partisan election in which candidates are elected to office.  All registered voters are eligible to vote as they choose in General Elections.

 

The Municipal (city/town) Elections and School Board Elections are non-partisan elections.  All registered voters who reside within the respective municipal or school board districts are eligible to vote in these elections.  The Municipal Elections are held in odd-numbered years.  And the School Board Elections are held in even-numbered years on General Election Day. 

What is an Absentee Ballot? How do I vote Absentee?

Written Request By Mail:     A voter or near relative may request an application by mail, fax, or e-mail.  The voter is mailed an application and the ballot and after the voter completes both, they are returned to the elections office.  The written request must be made beginning 50 days prior to but not later than the Tuesday prior to election day.

 

The completed absentee ballot request form must be signed by the voter or the voter’s near relative, and include the voter’s name, address as it appears on the registration records, address where the ballot is to be mailed, and date of birth.  If the request is by the near relative, the near relative’s address and relationship to the voter.  Ballots will be mailed to the voter’s mailing address not the near relative’s.

 

State law (General Statute Section 163-230.2) now requires that a request for an absentee ballot be “written entirely by the requester personally” or by being submitted “on a form generated by the county board of elections and signed by the requestor.

 

The State Board of Elections has issued rules that would require that we mail a form to each requester whose written request is not “written entirely by the requester personally.”

 

A near relative, as defined by law, is a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, or verifiable legal guardian.

 

Due to sickness or disability only, the voter may request absentee ballots for the calendar year.

One-Stop Voting:  One-Stop Early voting is available in the Demonstration Kitchen on the 2nd floor of the Governmental Center.  One-Stop Voting permits qualified voters to voter absentee in person.  One-Stop Absentee Voting begins on the third Thursday before the election until the Saturday before the election.  Voting hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 5:00 pm and Saturday before the election 8:00 am until 1:00 pm.

 

Instructions will be handed to the voter who votes in person or mailed to those voters who request ballots by mail.

 

All ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections office by 5:00 pm the day before the election.  The ballot must be delivered by United States mail, the voter, or near relative.

 

Mail to:                  Rockingham County Board of Elections

                             Absentee Voting Department

                             PO Box 208

                             Wentworth, NC 27375

 

Or Fax to:                (336) 342-8228

 

Or click here to request via email a request form for an absentee ballot. 

What is Curbside Voting?
If you are unable to enter the voting place because of age or physical disability, you will be allowed to vote either in your vehicle or near the polling place.  Send the driver or other person in vehicle to request to the chief judge or other election official to request assistance.

What if I moved and failed to change my registration?
If you have moved within Rockingham County and you fail to change your address by the registration deadline, there is a procedure that allows you to vote. On election day, you should go to your old precinct and fill out a ‘transfer’ form. Then you must take the transfer form to your new precinct or the Board of Elections Office. You will be allowed to vote at the new precinct. To avoid this paperwork, change your address by the registration deadline.

What are Provisional Ballots?
A Provisional Ballot is a ‘voted’ ballot, which is preserved and protected in a certification envelope until the voter’s qualifications are determined. If the voter is determined qualified, the ballot is counted on Canvass Day. If the voter is determined not eligible the ballot envelope remains sealed.

The intent of fail-safe voting (provisional ballots) is such that those who are eligible to vote are allowed to do so without disturbing the integrity of the elections. It also protects the integrity of the elections by not counting the provisional ballots of those persons not qualified to vote.

What are the rules and regulations for campaign signs?
COUNTY:

Yard signs erected temporarily such as political signs or those advertising yard sales shall be removed within 5 days after the event promoted has taken place.

 

No signs of any nature, except signs erected for orderly traffic control, signs marking sites of historical interest and signs for other governmental purposes, shall be permitted within any public right-of-way.  (30 feet off center line of street/highway) and/or (10 ft. off right-of-way)

 

Permits are required for ground signs more than 15 square feet in size.

 

CITY OF EDEN:

No private sign shall be posted on any traffic control, street light, power, telephone, or other utility poles or on any tree in the right-of-way of any street or road; nor shall any private sign be permitted which interferes in any way with a utility line.

 

No private sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way, nor project over the public right-of-way.  At all intersections, no signs shall interfere with clear sight distances for any driver crossing or entering a roadway.  Wall signs shall be permitted to project up to eighteen (18) inches from a building wall over the public right-of-way if such projection is necessary to the installation of the sign.

 

CITY OF REIDSVILLE:

Campaign and/or political signs may be placed on personal or private property with owner’s permission.  Placement of campaign and/or political signs are prohibited along roads and streets, nor shall they be placed along the public right-of-way within the city limits.

 

TOWN OF MADISON:

It shall be unlawful for any person to tack, nail or otherwise fasten any notice, advertisement, sign, political circular or like paper to any electric or telephone pole in the town or within the right-of-way of any street, road, highway or within four (4) feet from the edge of the pavement or shoulder of any street or sidewalk.

 

TOWN OF MAYODAN:

It shall be unlawful for any person, persons or corporation to attach signs of any sort whatsoever to telephone poles, electric utility poles, or other poles or posts within the corporate limits of the Town of Mayodan without the express authority of the person owning or controlling said pole or post.  It shall also be unlawful for any person attaching signs to any poles or posts, even with the express authority of the person owning said pole or post, to leave said sign up after the date of the event for which the sign was erected.

 

TOWN OF STONEVILLE:                         Has no regulations

 

 

TOWN OF WENTWORTH:                         Same as County

 

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Copyright 2000 Rockingham County