Board of Elections prepares for May 6 primary

Depending on political party affiliation and the address on record, Iredell County’s absentee voters will receive one of 37 possible ballots soon.

The ballot of a Democrat who lives in Harmony, for example, will have very little if any resemblance to that of a Republican from Mooresville.

Becky Galliher, director of the Iredell County Board of Elections, said this year’s primary is going to be one to remember.

“I think it could be the heaviest we’ve ever had,” she said Tuesday, pointing out many ballots she and other elections workers will be placing into envelopes will be sent to military personnel, out-of-county students and overseas workers.

“And anyone, even in the county, who wants an early, mail-in ballot,” she added.

She said ensuring that the right voter gets the right ballot is a complicated process.

“It’s something only we know how to do,” she said. “And it can get confusing.”

Galliher said the primary election essentially doubles the workload because party affiliation is a component in process.
“And on top of that, we have several thousand unaffiliated voters,” she said.

And to accommodate that group - which, Galliher said, is nearly 21,000 voters - she had to have enough ballots to cover both of the two major parties.

Galliher pointed out that those wishing to vote in the May 6 primary must have all their information - name, address changes or switches in party affiliation - completed by April 11.

Galliher is also hoping a lot of people take advantage of the early, one-stop, voting period that runs from April 17 through May 3 at the Board of Elections office and at three other sites throughout the county beginning April 21.

“We really, really encourage people to use the one-stop,” Galliher said. “As I said, we are expecting a huge turnout on primary election day.”

Johnnie McLean, the deputy director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, concurs with that prediction.

She said the closest North Carolina got to having a primary that carried some weight was in 1988 when the state was included in what McLean called the “southern version” of Super Tuesday.

“But in ’88, the candidates had already been decided,” she said. “And in this one, the state is still important because of our delegate count.”

And because of that importance, McLean said the pressure is on to make sure absolutely no mistakes are made.

“It’s an exciting time for us. You always look forward to elections when you’re in the election business,” McLean said. “But our concern is that the process is done correctly and properly because they are going to be looking at North Carolina very closely, especially if there is a close election.“

McLean also explained that North Carolina law required the political parties to submit their slate of candidates by Feb. 5.

Because of that, Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has already sewn up the GOP nomination for president, will be joined on the ballot by Mike Huckabee, Alan Keyes and Ron Paul.

On the Democratic ballot, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel is still in the running.

Posted on 03/26/08 at 08:25 AM
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