One-Stop Early Voting Opens in Cumberland County and NC
One-Stop early voting is open, starting today, October 15, across Cumberland County and North Carolina. That means anybody already registered can go to any one of the in-person locations available and cast their absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election.
NEED MORE INFORMATION: Check out our full 2020 General Election Guide here.
And don’t worry, if you aren’t registered to vote, you can register AND vote at any of the one-stop early voting locations in Cumberland County through October 31. You’ll need to bring some proof of residence to get registered.
And because of additional health and safety precautions at all of the polling places, you can expect that lines will be longer and the process will take a bit longer than usual.
“We’re going to have a little bit of a slower process during check-in just because we’re going to have to maintain social distancing rules,” Board of Elections Director Terri Robertson said. “Also, we will not be allowing anymore people in the room than what the room could hold to maintain six-foot distances. Lines will start at the door and there will be markers to be six feet apart.”
News Release from Cumberland County:
Cumberland County residents who are qualified and registered to vote for the election may vote early during the One-Stop Voting period from Thursday, Oct. 15 to Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. Individuals who are not yet registered are allowed to do same-day registration at the early voting sites. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of residence. Information on same-day registration is available on the Board of Elections website.
Registered voters may update their address and change vital information in an existing registration record at the One-Stop site, but they are not allowed to change their party affiliation during the One-Stop Voting period that precedes a partisan primary.
PPE at Voting Locations
This year, voters will see changes at polling sites due to the pandemic. The Board of Elections delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) to all 12 of its one-stop voting locations within the county. Masks are recommended for all voters. Poll workers will offer a mask to anyone in need.
All voting booths have been measured to be six feet apart. Sneeze guards are at check-in stations and ballot tables, plus workers can use face guards provided by the county to maintain everyone’s health. Hand sanitizer will be at the entrances and exits of every One-Stop Voting site. Workers will also clean each voting booth between voters. This year, there will be no “I Voted” stickers given after casting votes. Instead, voters can take home their pen used to cast their votes.
“We’re going to have a little bit of a slower process during check-in just because we’re going to have to maintain social distancing rules,” Board of Elections Director Terri Robertson said. “Also, we will not be allowing anymore people in the room than what the room could hold to maintain six-foot distances. Lines will start at the door and there will be markers to be six feet apart.”
Each polling site will also have an Express Vote machine, which is ADA compliant, available for people who have disabilities. Poll workers will be providing cotton swabs to voters who use the machine to make their ballot selections.
Curbside Voting
Voters who are unable to enter the voting place are permitted to vote curbside. Curbside voting takes place in a vehicle in a process overseen by an election official. A curbside voter is entitled to the same level of assistance, privacy, and instruction provided to voters within the polling place.
To find polling sites and hours, visit co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/election-group/elections/absentee-onestop/one-stop-voting.
County-by-county early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board’s One-Stop Early Voting Site Search. (For early voting sites statewide, see this PDF.)
