Republicans and unaffiliated voters have one more chance to choose nominees for lieutenant governor and state auditor.
Polls will be open for Tuesday’s second Republican primary from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at all normal polling places in the county. Early voting ended Saturday, with only 80 people casting a ballot in Columbus. Statewide, seven million were eligible to vote, but only 29,000 voters went to the polls.
county commissioners last week approved a $45,000 budget amendment for the second primary.
While only two slots are open on the Columbus County ballot, a number of other races, including state house seats, are on the ballot. Locally, however, just the state auditor and lieutenant governor are up for votes.
Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill are vying for the lieutenant governor’s post, while Jack Clark and Dave Boliek are running for state auditor.
The winners will face Democrat nominees Rachel Hunt for lieutenant governor and Jessica Holmes for state auditor.
Weatherman has been endorsed by current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is the Republican nominee for governor. Robinson faces Democrat Josh Stein, the sitting attorney general, for the state’s chief executive post. Stein hopes to follow in the footsteps of Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper, who used the attorney general’s seat as a springboard to the governor’s mansion.
Holmes was appointed to fill out Beth Woods’ term as auditor after Woods resigned last year. Woods struck a parked vehicle and left the scene of the accident. She was driving her state-owned vehicle and had been at a Christmas party. Woods went to her attorney’s office, and reported to police the next day. She eventually pleaded guilty and paid restitution.
A valid form of identification is now required to cast a ballot. If a voter does not have a driver’s license or other government approved identification, the voter can still cast a provisional ballot.
