SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — The 2024 Primary Election takes place Tuesday, March 5, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m.
U.S. president, state governor and attorney general, among other North Carolina offices, as well as local school boards and commissioners are included on the ballot (sample ballots listed below in each county).
Port City Daily has put together helpful information below for voters to consider before heading to the polls.
Voters will choose which candidates from their registered party they want to move forward in the formal election; unaffiliated voters can choose which party’s primary they want to vote in.
To check voter registration and polling location, click here.
A valid photo ID will be needed to cast a ballot for the Primary Election. Anyone without a license or identification card can obtain a free ID from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles or from their county board of elections office. Accepted forms of ID include:
- North Carolina driver’s license
- State ID from NCDMV
- Out-of-state drivers license or ID, if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election
- U.S. passport or passport card
- NC voter photo ID card from board of elections
- Student ID from college approved by the State Board of Elections
- State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections
Some expired photo IDs also are accepted:
- Military or veterans IDs from government
- Tribal enrollment card
- ID card issued by government for public assistance program
- ID for voters 65 and older whose ID was unexpired on 65th birthday
Voters without an ID can still cast a ballot by filling out an ID exception form, available at each polling station.
Absentee ballots can be mailed, hand-delivered to the board of elections office, or dropped off at the early voting locations in the voter’s registered county (absentee ballots can be tracked here).
Polls close at 7:30 p.m.; however, anyone in line at that time will be permitted to vote.
Port City Daily interviewed local school board and commissioner candidates ahead of the primary. Names under each county below are highlighted blue to access their questionnaires and find out where they stand on issues; local candidates whose names are not highlighted blue did not answer PCD’s questionnaire.
Port City Daily, with media partners WHQR and WECT, also hosted a school board candidate forum for New Hanover County GOP candidates (the only party to have a primary) last month; read WHQR’s fact-check on the forum here. Watch it here.
New Hanover County
Click below to see sample ballots:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Click blue name to access PCD’s questionnaire.
- Nikki M. Bascome (R)*
- Jerry Jones Jr. (D)*
- Judy Justice (D)*
- Tim Merrick (D)*
Cynthia Munoz (D)* Munoz pulled out of the election mid-primary; if she secures votes to be in the top three, the Democratic Party will choose her replacement.- Kimberly McDuffie Murphy (R)*
- David Perry (R)*
- Aubrey Tuell (R)*
- Nathosa Tew (R)*
Brunswick County
Click to see sample ballots:
- Democratic here
- Libertarian here
- Republican here
- Bald Head Island Democratic here
- Bald Head Island Libertarian here
- Bald Head Island Republican here
- Bald Head Island Nonpartisan here
BRUNSWICK COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Click blue name to access PCD’s questionnaire.
District 1
- Lavar Marlow (R)*
- Vickie Smith (R)*
District 2
- Catherine Cooke (R)*
- Rick Hessman (R)*
- David Robinson (R)*
District 4
- Shirley Babson (R)* (did not answer questionnaire)
- Steven Barger (R)*
- Janis Simmons (D) (not part of primary)
BRUNSWICK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Click blue name to access PCD’s questionnaire.
District 3
- Jwantana Gardner Frink (R)
- Pat Sykes (R)*
District 5
- Jonathan Damico (D) (not part of primary)
- Erik Tammaru (R)*
- Frank Williams (R)*
Pender County
County board of elections website does not have a sample ballot for the 2024 Primary Election in Pender County.
PENDER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Click blue name to access PCD’s questionnaire.
District 5
- Phil Cordeiro (R)*
- Tommy Reeves (R) (did not answer questionnaire)
PENDER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Click blue name to access PCD’s questionnaire.
District 1
- Joe Cina (R)* (did not answer questionnaire)
- Brad George (R)*
- Jim Harris (D) (not part of primary)
District 4
- Max Southworth-Beckwith (R)*
- Demetrice A. Keith (D) (not part of primary)
- Jacqueline (Jackie) Newton (R)* (did not answer questionnaire)
- Ken Smith (R)* (did not answer questionnaire)
District 5
- Fred McCoy (R)* (did not answer questionnaire)
- Brent Springer (R)*
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