How to vote @ WCU

Early voting in the U.C,  Feb 13-29th. Photo by: Chandler Keller

Early voting is ending this Saturday, Feb. 29 so you still have time to cast your early vote in North Carolina primaries. You can vote on campus in the U.C. Multipurpose room. Having the polling place on the campus is a major plus, but being a college student and living between school and home can make voting, registration and re-registration difficult. So, here is a step-by-step guide on how to vote @ WCU while also considering the hurdles students may face.

Important Dates:  

• Early voting Feb. 13-28^th 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Feb. 29^th 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Feb. 29^th last day to register for primary voting.
• Feb. 29^th last day of early voting.
• Mar. 3^rd primary election day.

If you are not registered in Jackson county and wish to:

• Luckily, you can register for the first time or re-register for Jackson county at the same location as early voting on campus!
• Early voting is taking place on campus in the A.K. Hinds Multipurpose room.
• You do not need your ID to vote. However, to register to vote you do need to show photo ID and proof of Jackson county residency. Here is a complete list of what one can use.
• In North Carolina, a voter is allowed to register either:
  

  Early voting in the Muiltipurpose room Feb. 13-29th. Photo by: Chandler Keller

  • Democrat
  • Republican
  • Libertarian
  • Green Party
  • Constitutional Party
  • Unaffiliated
• The N.C primary is semi-closed meaning a voter must vote within the party they are registered with, however, some parties open voting up to unaffiliated voters.
• As of right now an unaffiliated voter can choose whether to vote in the Democrat, Republican or Libertarian primary but cannot vote in the Constitutional or Green because they are closed.
• Once you finish registering, you can start the voting process.

If you are registered back home and would like to keep it that way:

• You can fill out an Absentee Ballot.
• As of this year, you have to pick up an official 2020 form from either Jackson County Board of Elections or the Multipurpose room located in the A.K Hinds building.
• You can no longer email or fax your absentee ballot.
• A signed and completed State Absentee Ballot Request Form must be received by the county board of elections office no later than 5 p.m.  on the Tuesday prior to the date of the election.
• If you are having a hard time getting your vote mailed, you can take it to the Jackson County Board of Elections and they can fax it for you.

The voting process (no photos allowed in this process):

• First, pick the party ballot you are registered with.
• Then walk with your blank ballot over to the ballet marking touch screen device.
• On the device, you will see a slit on the right corner of the machine, this is where your blank ballot is inserted.
• Now it is time to pick your candidates!
  • The touch screen device lists the office positions on the top of the screen and candidates below.
  • if there are more candidates than what can fit on the screen, then the “more” button will appear, blinking at the bottom of the screen.
  • A voter must click through all candidates before proceeding to their next selection.
  • Once the voter is done choosing their answers they are asked to review their choices on screen before printing their ballot.
  • After printing, the voter is now asked to review the answers printed on the ballot and make sure they align with the voters choices.
• After reviewing the paper ballot, the voter then walks the ballot over to the DS200 scanner machine and places it in.
• Now, collect your ‘I voted’ sticker!

This two-step voting system is new for Jackson County North Carolina, and is a result of a law made by the General Assembly in 2013. Click here for a more in-depth break down of the new voting system and how it compares to the previous.