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Watauga County Voter Referendum Clarification

What does the Watauga County Board of Commissioners Structure Change vote mean?

When you vote in Watauga County this year, the following question is on the ballot:
Shall the structure of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners be changed to (a) 3 electoral districts where commissioners living within a district are nominated and elected by qualified voters within that district and (b) 2 at-large seats where qualified voters from the entire county nominate and elect commissioners for those 2 seats?

Voters are then asked to choose “Yes” or “No.”
If you vote “Yes,” you are saying that you prefer to change to the new structure described on the ballot. For those who live in Blowing Rock, the new electoral district you would be in (District 1) covers most of the western and southern parts of the county, from Cove Creek and Beaver Dam, around by Beech Mountain, to Seven Devils and Foscoe, then Blowing Rock and Blue Ridge.  You would also get to vote with all of the rest of the county for the 2 at-large seats.
If you vote “No,” you are saying that you prefer to keep the 5 current electoral districts, where each of the 5 commissioners must live in their electoral district and be nominated and elected by qualified voters in that district. There are no at-large commissioners that are voted on by all voters in the county.  For those who live in Blowing Rock, your current electoral district (District 5) covers most of the southern and a portion of the eastern part of the county, consisting of Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge, Elk, and Stony Fork.  Todd Castle (R) and Sue Sweeting (D) are running for the District 5 seat this year.

New Early Voting Hours from WCBOE
Watauga Democrat Article Link:

The new times for early voting are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays between Oct. 17 and Nov. 2. The last day of early voting, Nov. 2, will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Early Voting Locations

Early Voting Locations:

• Watauga County Administration Building (Commissioners’ Board Room): 814 W. King Street in Boone
• Blowing Rock American Legion Building: 333 Wallingford Street
• Deep Gap Fire Department: 6583 Old 421 South
• Meat Camp Fire Department: 4797 NC Highway 194 North in Boone
• Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State University (Blue Ridge Ballroom): 263 Locust Street in Boone
  • Parking Lot: 644 Howard Street
• Western Watauga Community Center: 1081 Old US Highway 421 in Sugar Grove

2024 Election Calendar 

17^th – Early Voting Begins
29^th – Last Day to Request Absentee Ballot by Mail

November
2^nd – Early Voting Ends at 3:00pm
5^th – Statewide General Election
5^th – Deadline for Absentee by Mail ballots to be received at office is 7:30 pm
15^th – General Election Canvass

Please remember: Photo ID is required. If you are registered to vote in Watauga County, you may vote at ANY early voting site you choose. Same Day Registration is available at every early voting site, but you must provide proof of residence in Watauga County.

Sample Ballot Link:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/ncsbesb/20241105/76_95_B0003.pdf

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