North Carolina has started early in-person voting for the upcoming runoff elections, which include a congressional and two statewide primary contests. These runoffs are necessary because no candidate received more than 30% of the vote in the March primaries, leading to a second round of voting. The GOP runoffs will determine the party’s nominees for lieutenant governor, state auditor, and the 13th Congressional District seat. The winners will go on to face Democratic rivals in the fall elections.
The runoff races are open to all registered Republicans in the state, with unaffiliated voters who either didn’t vote or voted Republican in the March primaries also allowed to participate. Early voting will continue in all 100 counties through May 11, with most counties having just one early-vote site for the runoffs. In addition to the statewide races, a GOP primary runoff is being held for a Gaston County commissioner’s seat, as well as a nonpartisan race for a seat on the Orange County Board of Education.
Unfortunately, same-day registration is not available during early voting for the runoff elections, as the registration of new voters is not permitted between the first and second primaries. However, individuals who become eligible to vote during this period can both register and vote on May 14, the day of the runoffs. Traditional mail-in absentee voting for the runoffs began in late March, with county boards sending ballots to those who requested them. Overall, the runoff elections serve as an important opportunity for North Carolina voters to determine the Republican nominees for key positions in the state government and Congress.
