North Carolina’s only second primary of the 2020 campaign season is set for next month.
The March 3 Republican primary race for the U.S. House of Representatives District 11 seat came down to Haywood County’s Lynda Bennett and Henderson County’s Madison Cawthorn.
Bennett received 20,606 votes (22.72 percent), while Cawthorn finished with 18,481 votes (20.38 percent).
However, since Bennett did not reach the 30 percent requirement to avoid a runoff, Cawthorn requested a runoff. As a result, voters can determine who will advance to face Democrat Moe Davis, Green Party candidate Tamara Zwinak and Libertarian Tracey DeBruhl in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Bennett finished third in Graham County during the March 3 election – picking up 254 votes, or 17.10 percent – while Cawthorn was fifth, with 86 votes (5.79 percent).
State Sen. Jim Davis (R-Franklin) ended up carrying Graham County, accumulating 471 votes (31.72 percent).
The post was previously held by U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who vacated the seat after his appointment as White House chief of staff by President Donald Trump in March. Meadows announced in December 2019 that he would not seek re-election.
Early voting begins Thursday, June 4, and runs through Saturday, June 20, at the Graham County Board of Elections Office at 18 Court St. in Robbinsville. Polls will be open on election day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will be held at four normal locations: Stecoah, Tapoco, Robbinsville West Precinct (Graham County Community Center) and Robbinsville East Precinct (Graham County Courthouse).
Beginning Friday, voters were able to request absentee ballots for the runoff. The cutoff for absentee requests is Tuesday, June 16.
Only registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters who either voted on the Republican ballot or did not vote in the first primary can take part.
Election workers and locations will be equipped with plenty of precautions for the voting process, including:
* Masks will be available for workers and voters.
* Single-use pens for voters.
* Single-use cotton swabs for touch-screen votes.
* Social distancing for poll workers and voters.
* Hand sanitizer for workers and voters.
* Face shields and gloves for poll workers.
* Protective barriers between workers and voters at check-in tables.
* Special sanitation kits at each location.
* Thorough cleaning of voting sites before and after the election.
“Voters should not fear disease when they cast their ballot,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the N.C. Board of Elections.
“We want them to know that elections officials are taking many steps to protect them and their fundamental right to vote in this second primary.
“Efforts during this second primary will help us better prepare for any disease pandemic we may face in November.”