Chatham residents will see multiple primaries on Super Tuesday ballot

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Super Tuesday is less than two months away and Chatham County residents will play a part.

North Carolina is joining 15 other states or territories in holding a primary election on March 3. So in addition to selecting their choice of a presidential candidate for their party, North Carolina voters will have the opportunity to pick their party’s representative in most statewide offices, including U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Chatham residents will also have local options on their ballots.

Here’s a rundown of everything on the ballot this primary season. Voter registration for the primary closes on February 7.

Chatham County Board of Commissioners, District 2: The lone locally-contested race pits incumbent Chatham County Commissioner Mike Dasher (D-District 2) against challenger Katelin Hancock of Apex.

County-wide referenda: The board of commissioners voted in October 2019 to place a referendum for a one-quarter cent increase in the sales tax rate on the ballot. If approved, it is estimated to add at least $1.6 million per year to the county’s budget. Based on a resolution passed by the commissioners, the funds could be used for affordable housing, education, parks and recreation or agricultural preservation and enhancement. The county’s sales tax rate is currently 6.75 percent, one of the lowest in the area.

The board voted in September 2019 to place a referendum for beer and malt beverage sales on the ballot which would allow establishments to sell beer without serving food. A similar measure passed in Siler City during the 2019 municipal elections.

U.S. House of Representatives: A majority of Chatham County is now represented in Congress by U.S. Rep. David Price (D-District 4) following redistricting that was finalized late last year. Price is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Daniel Lockwood of Cary. There are four candidates vying to be the Republican opposition — Debesh Sarkar, Nasir Shaikh and Steve von Loor, all of Raleigh, and Robert Thomas of Durham.

Deadlines: Absentee ballots will be available for request beginning Jan. 13. Chatham County residents who wish to register to vote or change their voter registration can do so until Feb. 7. Following that, residents will also be able to same-day register to vote during the early voting period which will run from Feb. 13-29.

Early voting: There will be four early voting sites, with two locations new to the county this year. Residents will be able to vote at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center in Pittsboro, the Central Carolina Community College Chatham Health Sciences Center in Pittsboro, the Earl B. Fitts Community Center in Siler City and the Goldston Town Hall in Goldston. There will not be early voting at the Board of Elections office in Pittsboro.

Early voting will available on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Saturday early voting on Feb. 15 and 22 will be available from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Hours for the final day of early voting, on Saturday, Feb. 29, are from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is no voter identification requirement for the 2020 primary election.

Reporter Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.