Early voting runs through May 5. Find your one-stop early-voting location. The primary election is May 8.
Read our 2012 Primary Endorsements
Read the 2012 Candidate Questionnaires
N.C. Primary FAQ
Q: Can an unaffiliated voter participate in the primary?
A: Yes. Unaffiliated voters can fill out a Democratic or Republican ballot and vote in those races.
Q: Will voting in a party primary change my voter affiliation?
A: No, unaffiliated voters will remain unaffiliated even if they vote in a party primary. If you want to register with a party, you will need to fill out a fresh voter registration form.
Q: What if I want to vote only on Amendment 1?
A: There is also an nonpartisan ballot in which you can vote only on Amendment 1.
Q: Is there a Libertarian primary?
A: There will be a Libertarian ballot, but the only contested race is for president.
Q: When must I register?
A: The deadline is at least 25 days prior to the election, which is May 8.
Q: Is there same-day registration?
A: Yes, there is same-day registration during early voting, April 19–May 5, but not on Election Day.
Q: Can I vote in the Republican primary if I'm a Democrat and vice versa?
A: You have to change your party affiliation 25 days prior to the election if you want to vote in another party's primary.
Q: What if I'm 17 and will turn 18 by the time the general election comes in November?
A: You can vote in the primary for candidates to appear on the November ballot, but you can't vote on Amendment 1 or for the school board contests, because they are voted on only in May.
Q: When are the polls open on Election Day?
A: From 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Q: What about absentee voting?
A: The Tuesday prior to Election Day—May 1—is the deadline to request an absentee ballot.
[Correction: In print, this guide stated that party affiliation could be changed during early voting. According to N.C. law, party affiliation may not be changed during the one-stop (early) voting period before any first or second partisan primary. Also, in order to vote in another party's primary, your party affiliation must be changed 25 days prior to (not within 25 days of) the election date.]
The top section lists races that all registered voters can cast ballots in. The bottom sections list additional contests by county. When you take this guide to the ballot box, use both the top list and the one for your county. Early voting runs April 19–May 5. The Primary Election is May 8.
The Indy does not endorse in uncontested races. For federal and state House and Senate contests, you will vote in the district according to your residency. Note that because of redistricting, you may be voting in different districts than you did previously.
All registered voters
N.C. State Board of Elections: 919-733-7173, www.ncsbe.gov
Constitutional Amendment 1
Against
U.S. President
(D) Barack Obama (no preference is the other choice)
(R) Mitt Romney
(L) no endorsement
N.C. Governor
(D) Walter Dalton
(R) no endorsement
N.C. Lieutenant Governor
(D) Eric Mansfield
(R) no endorsement
N.C. Auditor
(R) Fern Schubert
N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture
(D) Walter Smith
(R) Steve Troxler
N.C. Commissioner of Labor
(D) Marlowe Foster
N.C. Commissioner of Insurance
(R) Mike Causey
N.C. Secretary of State
(R) Michael Beitler
N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction
(R) Ray Martin
N.C. Treasurer
(D) Janet Cowell
(R) no endorsement
Chatham County
Board of Elections: 919-545-8500, www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx?page=110
U.S. House District 2
(D) Steve Wilkins
(R) Renee Ellmers
U.S. House District 4
(R) no endorsement
U.S. House District 13
(D) This race is uncontested because Charles Malone withdrew.
(R) no endorsement
N.C. House District 54
(D) Jeffrey Starkweather
Durham County
Board of Elections: 919-560-0700, www.co.durham.nc.us/departments/elec/
U.S. House District 1
(D) G.K. Butterfield
U.S. House District 4
(R) no endorsement
U.S. House District 6
(R) no endorsement
N.C. Senate District 20
(D) Floyd McKissick Jr.
N.C. Senate District 22
(D) Mike Woodard
N.C. House District 50
(D) Valerie Foushee
(R) no endorsement
Board of Commissioners (5 seats)
Fred Foster Jr., Wendy Jacobs, Ellen Reckhow, Will Wilson, no endorsement for the fifth seat
Board of Education (at-large, nonpartisan, 1 seat)
Leigh Bordley
Orange County
Board of Elections: 919-245-2350, www.co.orange.nc.us/elect
U.S. House District 4
(R) no endorsement
U.S. House District 6
(R) no endorsement
N.C. House District 50
(D) Valerie Foushee
(R) no endorsement
N.C. House District 54
(D) Jeffrey Starkweather
Board of Commissioners, District 1 (2 seats)
Mark Dorosin, Penny Rich
Board of Commissioners, District 2 (1 seat)
Renee Price
Board of Education (nonpartisan, 3 seats)
Stephen Halkiotis, Tony McKnight, Lawrence Sanders Sr.
Wake County
Board of Elections: 919-856-6240, www.wakegov.com/elections/default.htm
U.S. House District 2
(D) Steve Wilkins
(R) Renee Ellmers
U.S. House District 4
(R) no endorsement
U.S. House District 13
(D) This race is uncontested because Charles Malone withdrew.
(R) no endorsement
N.C. Senate District 18
(R) Michael Schriver
N.C. House District 33
(D) Rosa Gill
N.C. House District 35
(R) Chris Malone
N.C. House District 38
(D) Lee Sartain
N.C. House District 39
(D) Darren Jackson
N.C. House District 49
(R) Jim Fulghum III
District 10 Judge (nonpartisan, Gray seat)
Erin Graber
District 10 Judge (nonpartisan, Worley seat)
Daniel Barker
