SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Election Day has arrived and Port City Daily has put together a voter guide for those who want to learn more about candidates ahead of casting their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
READ MORE: From questionnaires to town halls, some Republican candidates disengage with the media
U.S. president, state governor and attorney general, among other North Carolina offices, as well as local school boards and commissioners, are included in the 2024 election. Scroll below to to access candidate questionnaires for local and tri-county state races.
PCD also has information about hours, acceptable forms of voter ID — or what to do if you don’t have an ID — as well as on the Constitutional amendment that voters also will have to decide upon.
Hours, voter IDs, sample ballots
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. As long as people are in line by 7:30 p.m., they will be able to cast their votes; only registered voters can fill out the ballot and must do so at their precinct (click here to learn one’s polling place). All United States citizens, naturalized or born here, who are registered can vote.
Absentee ballots must be in by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to the county board of elections; ballots can be tracked here.
Curbside voting is also allowed for those with a disability or medical condition. Poll workers will help voters access their ballots from their vehicles. Some sites may also have a walkup location in addition to drive-up area. Signs will direct voters where to go.
A valid photo ID will be needed in order to vote. Anyone without a license or identification card can obtain a free ID from the North Carolina 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
- North Carolina 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.
To check what the sample ballot in your district looks like, click here.
Constitutional amendment
Also on this year’s ballot, voters will sign off on whether they want to see a constitutional amendment. change. If passed, it will alter the North Carolina Constitution by striking “naturalized” language.
Currently, the Constitution reads:
“Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and possessing the qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided.”
The referendum includes changing the Constitution to read:
“Only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age, and otherwise possessing the qualifications set out in this Article shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided.”
It will require a “for” or “against” vote.
The change was brought forth earlier this summer, first presented by Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly. Some members said they heard about municipalities in other states allowing noncitizens to vote.
North Carolina law already requires residents to be citizens to vote and federal law has criminalized noncitizens to cast ballots in elections. However, the measure was supported in a bipartisan fashion; only four Democrats voted against it in the Senate, compared to 12 in the House.
Opponents have argued its inclusion is a stunt by conservatives to drive more people to the polls and drum up anti-immigration conspiracies.
Read full coverage about it from Port City Daily here.
Candidate Questionnaires
Below are links to various candidate questionnaires Port City Daily has been running since September. Everyone that responded is linked below.
However, there are some races PCD has linked to media partner WHQR’s coverage, including for the U.S. House of Representative and judicial races.
PCD also paired up with WHQR and WECT to host candidate forums last month for the New Hanover County school board, commissioners and General Assembly races. They can be accessed at below links:
- House forum and fact-check
- Senate forum and fact-check
- NHC School Board forum and fact-check
- NHC Commissioners forum and fact-check
To read up on PCD’s reporting on presidential candidate rallies hosted in the Port City, see Tim Walz coverage here, JD Vance coverage here and Donald Trump coverage here.
U.S. Congress
House of Representatives 7th District
Below have two-year term limits.
- Marlando Pridgen (D) — Click here for WHQR’s interview
- David Rouzer (R)
North Carolina General Assembly
Below have two-year term limits. Click the blue link to access PCD’s questionnaire.
North Carolina Senate District 7
New Hanover County
- John Evans (L)
- David Hill (D)
- Michael Lee (R)
North Carolina Senate District 8
Columbus, Brunswick and a sliver of New Hanover County
- Bill Rabon (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Katherine Randall (D)
North Carolina Senate District 9
Bladen, Duplin, Jones, Sampson and Pender counties
- Brent Jackson (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Jamie Bowles (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
North Carolina House of Representatives District 16
Pender and part of Onslow County
- Frances Lakey (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Carson Smith (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
North Carolina House of Representatives District 17
Part of Brunswick County
- Frank Iler (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Charles Jones (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
North Carolina House of Representatives District 18
Part of New Hanover County
- Deb Butler (D)
- Write in candidate allowed
North Carolina House of Representatives District 19
Parts of New Hanover and Brunswick counties
- Jill Brown (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Charlie Miller (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
North Carolina House of Representatives District 20
Part of New Hanover County
- Jon Berger (D)
- Ted Davis (R)
New Hanover County
Click blue links to access PCD’s questionnaire.
New Hanover County Board of Education
Below offices have four-year terms.
- Nikki M. Bascome (R)
- Jerry Jones Jr. (D)
- Judy Justice (D)
- Tim Merrick (D)
- David Perry (R)
- Natosha Tew (R)
New Hanover County Commissioners
Below offices have four-year terms.
- Jonathan Barfield (D)
- John Hinnant (R)
- Bill Rivenbark (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Cassidy Santaguida (D)
- Dane Scalise (R)
- Stephanie Walker (D)
New Hanover and Pender counties District Attorney
Below offices have four-year terms.
- Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson (D)
- Jason Smith (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
New Hanover County Judicial Races
- From WHQR: District 6 Superior Court Judge candidates: Ricardo Jensen (D) and Max Ashworth (R) (Office has an eight-year term)
- From WHQR: 5th District Court Judges: Russel Davis (D) and Richard Kern (R) (Office has a four-year term)
New Hanover County Register of Deeds
Below offices have four-year terms.
- April Farr (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Morghan Collins (R)
Brunswick County
Click blue links to access PCD’s questionnaire.
Brunswick County Board of Education
Below offices have four-year terms.
District 1
- Vickie Smith (R)
District 2
- Catherine Cooke (R) — Did not answer general election questionnaire, but primary one is here.
District 4
- Steven Barger (R)
- Janis Simmons (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
Brunswick County Board of Commissioners
Below offices have four-year terms.
District 3
- Pat Sykes (R) — Did not answer general election questionnaire, but primary questionnaire is here
- Bob Fulton (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
District 4
- Mike Forte (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Tom Simmons (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
District 5
- Jonathan Damico (D)
- Frank Williams (R) — Did not answer general election questionnaire, but primary questionnaire is here
Brunswick County Register of Deeds
Below offices have four-year terms.
- Acquinetta Rochelle Beatty (D) — Did not answer questionnaire
- Dana Varnam (R)
Pender County
Click blue links to access PCD’s questionnaire.
Pender County Board of Education
Below offices have four-year terms.
District 5
- Don Hall (R)
District 5
- Tommy Reeves (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
Pender County Board of Commissioners
Below offices have four-year terms.
District 1
- Brad George (R) — Did not answer general election questionnaire, but primary questionnaire is here
- Jim Harris (D)
District 2
- Randy Burton (R)
- Dan Kinney (D)
District 4
- Demetrice A. Keith (D) – Did not answer questionnaire
- Ken Smith (R) – Did not answer questionnaire
District 5
- Brent Springer (R) – Did not answer general election questionnaire but primary questionnaire is here
Pender and New Hanover counties District Attorney
Below offices have four-year terms.
- Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson (D)
- Jason Smith (R) — Did not answer questionnaire
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