Robbinsville – It is really no surprise that a lot of eyes are on the Graham County Board of Elections at the moment.
The board just struck down the first of eight voter challenges filed by Lake Santeetlah council member Diana Simon. With the general election set to ramp up, the board is shifting its focus away from the 2021 fallout and looking to the hectic slate ahead:
* Thursday, Oct. 20: Early voting (one-stop) begins. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, with voting lasting on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Oct. 22 and 29), and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5.
* Tuesday, Nov. 1: Deadline to request an absentee ballot. Requests must be received by 5 p.m.;
* Saturday, Nov. 5: Early voting ends;
* Tuesday, Nov. 8: Election day; polls will be open at all four county precincts – Robbinsville’s West and East wards, as well as Stecoah and Tapoco – from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than election day and received by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14.