2016 Primary Election Voter Guide KEY ELECTION DATES

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1 ««2016 Primary Election Voter Guide Friday, February 19, 2016 Thursday, March 3, 2016 Tuesday, March 8, 2016 KEY ELECTION DATES Regular voter registration deadline for the Primary Election. Voter registration forms must be postmarked or delivered by 5 p.m. Registration is also available during the one-stop early voting period (March 3 12), subject to ongoing litigation. Please check the website at ncsbe.gov for updates. One-stop early voting begins. For locations, check with your county elections office (see pages 11-13) or see ncsbe.gov. Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot. Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. One-stop early voting ends. Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Election Day (polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.) Civilian absentee ballot deadline: Voted absentee ballots must be delivered to the appropriate county elections office by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day. However, such ballots postmarked on or before Election Day will be accepted through March 18. Military absentee ballot deadline: Voted military absentee ballots from voters qualifying under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 21. IMPORTANT INFORMATION INSIDE! Can t OBTAIN an acceptable photo ID? See Page 5 for how you can vote without one. Page 2: Page 3: Page 4: Page 7: Page 10: Page 10: Page 11-13: CONTENTS Overview Election Law Changes Voter ID Requirements and Exceptions Ballot Request Form General Election Judicial Candidates NC Public Improvements Bond County Boards of Elections Contact Information This Voter Guide is prepared by the State Board of Elections and is paid from residual funds of the NC Public Campaign Fund. 4,327,800 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $166,340 (4 cents each)

2 About the State Board of Elections The State Board of Elections is charged with overall responsibility for administration of elections and campaign nance law in North Carolina. The Board is composed of members nominated by the N.C. Republican Party and N.C. Democratic Party and appointed by the Governor. STATE BOARD MEMBERS A. Grant Whitney, Jr. (Chair) Rhonda K. Amoroso (Secretary) James L. Baker Dr. Maja Kricker Joshua D. Malcolm EXECUTIVE STAFF Kimberly Westbrook Strach, Chief State Election Official & Executive Director Amy Strange, Deputy Director Campaign Finance & Operations Veronica Degraffenreid, Election Preparation & Support Manager Marc Burris, Information Systems Director Jackie Hyland, Public Information Officer Josh Lawson, General Counsel OVERVIEW OF THIS GUIDE This Judicial Voter Guide provides information about laws and procedures that govern the election of judges to the state's Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Candidates are listed on page 10. No contest required a primary election. Detailed information and statements from the candidates will be provided in a Judicial Voter Guide issued prior to the 2016 General Election. WHO PAID FOR THIS GUID E? No general tax dollars were spent on printing and shipping this guide. Funding originated from the N.C. Public Campaign Fund, which was endowed by a $3 check-off designation on the state tax form and from a $50 surcharge on annual dues paid by members of the N.C. State Bar. The fund was repealed in 2013, but the Judicial Voter Guide will continue to be published until remaining funds are exhausted. VOTER REGISTRATION The regular voter registration deadline for the 2016 Primary Election is Friday, February 19. Applicants must ensure that their voter registration forms are postmarked or delivered to the State Board of Elections or their county board of elections by 5:00 p.m. Registration is also available during the one-stop early voting period that begins Thursday, March 3 and ends Saturday, March, 12 at 1:00 p.m. This option is currently available due to a temporary court order. For details about registration or to nd out more about one-stop early voting options in your county, contact your county board of elections office (see pages 11-13) or visit NCSBE.gov. Voter Registration forms can be found on the State Board of Elections website at: Deliver your completed voter registration form to your county board of elections office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19. County elections office information is located on pages

3 SUMMARY OF RECENT ELECTION LAW CHANGES Same-Day Registration The regular voter registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19. Session Law removed the option to register during the one-stop early voting period. However, at the time of this printing, a court has ordered that same-day registration will be available during the one-stop early voting period that begins Thursday, March 3 and ends Saturday, March, 12 at 1:00 p.m. The State Board of Elections encourages all voters to register by the regular deadline. For details about registration or to nd out more about one-stop early voting options in your county, contact your county board of elections office (see pages 11-13) or visit NCSBE.gov. PROPER PRECINCT VOTING Individuals may vote at any one-stop early voting location in their county of residence. On Election Day (March 15), the only way to guarantee you will participate in all eligible contests is to appear in the assigned polling place based on your residential address as of 30 days before Election Day. Session Law required that Election Day voters appear only in their properly assigned precinct location, with a limited exception for certain voters who failed to report that they had moved within the same county. However, at the time of this printing, a court has ordered that voters may appear in any precinct within their county of residence on Election Day. Voters who appear outside their assigned precinct will vote provisional ballots that will only count in contests for which the voter is eligible to participate. To check the status of the court order, contact your county elections office (see pages 11-13) or visit NCSBE.gov. To nd your assigned precinct voting location, visit Voter ID (pages 4-6) The General Assembly has changed requirements and exceptions regarding the need to present acceptable photo ID at the polls. Those changes, including new ways to vote without acceptable photo ID under certain circumstances, are incorporated in the Voter ID section of this Judicial Voter Guide on pages 4-6. Please carefully review pages 4-6 for important details. Supreme Court Retention Election Session Law now allows sitting justices on the N.C. Supreme Court to seek re-election without facing an opponent. This process is called retention election, which requires that a majority votes either yes or no on whether the sitting justice should remain in office for an additional term. If a majority approves, that justice may serve another eight-year term. If a majority disapproves, the office will be vacant at the expiration of the justice's term, and may be lled by gubernatorial appointment until the seat is lled in the next general election. Partisan Indicators for Court of Appeals Candidates Session Law now provides that ballots indicate the party affiliation of candidates seeking election to the N.C. Court of Appeals. However, judicial candidates are not selected through a partisan primary and are not nominated by any political party. VOTING BY PERSONS IN CARE FACILITIES Each county elections office will assemble Multipartisan Assistance Teams (MATs) to assist voters living in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and rest homes with mail-in absentee voting. MATs are available to voters who need assistance with mail-in absentee voting, but do not have a near relative or guardian available to help. Care facilities can arrange for MATs visits. For more information, contact your local county elections office (see pages 11-13). 3

4 Voter ID Most voters must now show acceptable photo ID at the polls. This guide contains information about voter ID requirements and exceptions outlined in the law (S.L , S.L , and S.L ). You may vote with any of the photo IDs listed below. Free photo IDs are available from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). There are ways to vote, even if you cannot obtain acceptable photo ID before the election (see exceptions on page 5). For additional information or assistance, please contact the State Board of Elections Voter Outreach Team at or what types of photo IDs are ACCEPTABLE? DRIVER LICENSE DRIVER LICENSE (may be expired up to 4 years) (may be expired up to 4 years) (unexpired) (unexpired, if there is an expiration date) (unexpired, if there is an expiration date) Certain Tribal Enrollment Cards (* see requirements) * Cards issued by North Carolina recognized tribes and approved by the State Board of Elections are acceptable for voting if they have an expiration date and are unexpired. Cards issued by federally recognized tribes are acceptable if they have an expiration date and are unexpired, or if they have an issuance date and were issued within eight years. If you do not have one of the forms of photo ID above, you can get a free ID from the DMV. Need help getting your free nc dmv id card? Step 1: Gather the needed documents and information: 1. Two documents that prove your age and identity (examples: birth certi cate, court documents, or tax forms) 2. One document to prove your North Carolina residency (examples: a lease, voter registration card, or utility bill) 3. Your social security number Step 2: Bring these items to any drivers license office or DMV mobile unit, and state that you are there for your free NC Identi cation Card. DMV locations may be found at 4

5 Voter ID Exceptions Declaration of Reasonable Impediment Voters who are unable to obtain an acceptable photo ID due to a reasonable impediment may still vote a provisional ballot at the polls. (Examples of a reasonable impediment include but are not limited to the lack of proper documents, family obligations, transportation problems, work schedule, illness or disability.) A voter claiming that a reasonable impediment prevents him or her from obtaining acceptable photo ID, must: Complete and sign a Declaration of Reasonable Impediment Form, which describes the impediment. The form must be completed truthfully; completing the form fraudulently is punishable as a Class I felony under G.S (13). Provide one of the following alternative forms of identi cation: The last four digits of his or her social security number and birthdate; OR A copy of his or her voter registration card; OR A copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document bearing the voter's current name and address. If a voter fails to provide one of the alternative forms of identi cation at the polls, the voter may return to his or her county elections office and present the required identi cation by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21. The voter s provisional ballot will be counted unless the county board of elections nds that the declared impediment is factually false, merely denigrates the photo ID requirement, or is obviously nonsensical. Any registered voter of the county may challenge the factual veracity of the declared impediment. If a challenge is made, the voter will be provided notice and an opportunity to be heard by the county board of elections. VOTING ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL? Photo ID is not required in order to cast a mail-in absentee ballot. Absentee Ballot Request Forms are available online, at the county board of elections, at all one-stop early voting locations, and may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the date of the election. 5

6 Voter ID Requirements Voter ID Exceptions (cont.) Need OfFicial Documents? If you were born or married in North Carolina, you are eligible for a free birth or marriage certi cate for the purpose of obtaining your NC Identi cation Card for voting. Contact the NC Office of Vital Records at (919) or your county s Register of Deeds Office to request a certi ed copy of your records for voting purposes. If you were born or married out-of-state, contact that state's vital records office to receive a certi ed copy. Over the age of 70? If you are 70 years of age or older, you may use any acceptable photo ID that has been expired for any length of time, provided the photo ID expired on or after your 70th birthday. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES? Additional options exist for voters with a sincerely held religious objection to being photographed, voters who are victims of certain declared natural disasters, and newly registered voters who possess a drivers license or non-operators license issued within the United States. For details, visit VoterID.nc.gov. need help? Have Questions? If you have special needs or circumstances, are having difficulty getting the documents you need, or can't get to a DMV office, help is available. Please visit VoterID.nc.gov or contact the Voter Outreach Team at

7 State Absentee Ballot Request Form (See Reverse Side) General Instructions A person must be a registered voter in his or her North Carolina county of residence in order to request an absentee ballot. If not registered to vote in the proper county a person must submit a voter registration application along with this form. Voter registration applications are available online at The deadline to register to vote is 25 days prior to the date of the election. Completing the Form The voter's full name, residential address, date of birth and an identi cation number (see Proof of Identi cation below) must be provided on this form. This information will be used to con rm your voter registration. In addition, this form must be signed by the voter or the voter's near relative or quali ed legal guardian. Who may make a request for an absentee ballot Either the voter or the voter's near relative or quali ed legal guardian may request an absentee ballot. A "near relative" is de ned as the voter's spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild. Who may not make a request for an absentee ballot If a registered voter is a patient in any hospital, clinic, nursing home or rest home in this State, it is unlawful for any owner, manager, director, employee, or other person, other than the voter's near relative or veri able legal guardian, to request an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter. The voter's county board of elections should be contacted if a voter in a hospital, clinic, nursing home or rest home in this State needs assistance requesting or voting an absentee ballot. Updating Voter Information This form may also serve as a voter change form; however, changes in voter registration may only be made by the voter. Proof of IDENTIFICATION If the voter's identi cation number (NC driver license number, NC DMV issued identi cation card number, or last four digits of social security number) is not provided, then a copy of one of the following must be provided along with this request: 1. A current and valid photo identi cation. 2. A document that shows the name and residential address of the voter: a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document. Ballot Availability Absentee balloting materials are mailed to voters once ballots for an election are available. For most elections, ballots will be available 50 days prior to the date of the election. Absentee ballots are available 60 days prior to the date of a statewide general election and 30 days prior to the date of a city or municipal election. Submitting the form Submit this form to the voter's county board of elections (see pages 11-13) no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the date of the election. This form may be mailed, faxed, ed, or delivered in person. Visit ncsbe.gov for the contact information for all county boards of elections. The status of your absentee request may also be checked on this website. 7

8 I am requesting an absentee ballot for the: Voter Information Last Name Home Address City State Absentee Ballot Request Form (NC Residential Address.) If No, indicate the date of your move: First Name Elec on Type (Primary, General, Municipal, Special, etc.) State Zip Code City If voter is a patient in a hospital, clinic, nursing home or rest home, City State Zip Code City If Yes, what is the name and address of the hospital or facility: Mailing Address Yes No County of Residence You must provide at least one identi cation number below. (see instructions) Voter Registration No. NC License or ID Number SSN [Optional] X X X - X X - Absentee Mailing Address If voter is registered as Unaffiliated Requestor s Name (First) Requestor s Address NC License or ID Number City North Carolina Have you lived at this address for more than 30 days? Absentee Voter Information Democratic (Where should the ballot be mailed?) If reques ng an absentee ballot on (Middle) Republican Current Address (Address where you are currently stationed or living overseas.) SSN (Suffix) City Relationship to Voter Name of Corporation State Zip Code Requestor s Phone Select one of the options below to qualify as a military or overseas voter: U.S. citizen residing outside the U.S. temporarily or inde nitely. (Last) Transmit my ballot by: (Military/Overseas on. Elec on Date (optional) Requestor s NC STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS P. O. BOX RALEIGH, NC PHONE: elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov (if applicable) Suffix (optional) State State State Zip Code Date of Birth Non -partisan Yes Zip Code No Zip Code FAX: Cut Here Cut Here Cut Here Cut Here Cut Here Cut Here Cut Here To remove this form. pull gently away from the binding. Return this form to your county board of elections office (see pages 11-13). X Date X Date Visit Statements by candidates do not express or re ect the opinions of the State Board of Elections. V

9 Candidates for the General Election General Election Judicial Candidates These candidates will be on the General Election ballot in March and will be featured in the General Election Voter Guide, which will be sent to voters in the fall of NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Retention Election Robert (Bob) Edmunds, Jr. Court of Appeals Candidates Seat 1 Seat 2 Richard Dietz Vince Rozier (REP) (DEM) Bob Hunter Abe Jones (REP) (DEM) Seat 3 Seat 4 Linda Stephens Phil Berger, Jr. (DEM) (REP) Valerie Zachary Rickye McKoy-Mitchell (REP) (DEM) About the NC Appellate Courts Appellate courts hear appeals regarding the decisions made in another court. The NC Supreme Court is the State's highest court. It hears appeals of cases from the Court of Appeals and appeals of cases that have imposed the death penalty. There is no further appeal in North Carolina of its decisions, but in limited instances involving federal law, the US Supreme Court may consider appeals from the NC Supreme Court. The NC Supreme Court has no jury. Its chief justice and six associate justices hear all cases together, as one sitting court. It considers errors in legal procedures or in interpretation of the law by a lower court. The NC Court of Appeals hears appeals of all kinds of decisions made by the state s trial courts. It also hears appeals from decisions by administrative agencies. There is no jury in the Court of Appeals. The 15 judges sit in rotating panels of three, considering errors in legal procedures or in judicial interpretation of the law. If a vote is 2-1, the losing party has an automatic right to appeal to the NC Supreme Court. Connect NC Public Improvement Bond referendum on the march 15 ballot (session Law House Bill 943): The issuance of two billion dollars ($2,000,000,000) State of North Carolina Public Improvement Bonds constituting general obligation bonds of the State secured by a pledge of the faith and credit and taxing power of the State for the purpose of providing funds, with any other available funds, to fund capital improvements and new facilities for the State, including, without limitation, the construction and furnishing of new facilities and the renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities for, without limitation, the University of North Carolina System, the North Carolina Community College System, water and sewer systems, the State's National Guard, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, attractions and parks, and the Department of Public Safety. Voting will be For or Against. 10

10 County Boards of Elections ALAMANCE 115 SOUTH MAPLE STREET GRAHAM, NC ALEXANDER PO BOX 326 TAYLORSVILLE, NC ALLEGHANY PO BOX 65 SPARTA, NC ANSON PO BOX 768 WADESBORO, NC ASHE 150 GOVERNMENT CIRCLE, STE 2100 JEFFERSON, NC AVERY PO BOX 145 NEWLAND, NC BEAUFORT PO BOX 1016 WASHINGTON, NC BERTIE PO BOX 312 WINDSOR, NC BLADEN PO BOX 512 ELIZABETHTOWN, NC BRUNSWICK PO BOX 2 BOLIVIA, NC BUNCOMBE PO BOX 7468 ASHEVILLE, NC BURKE P O BOX 798 MORGANTON, NC CABARRUS PO BOX 1315 CONCORD, NC CALDWELL PO BOX 564 LENOIR, NC CAMDEN PO BOX 206 CAMDEN, NC CARTERET 1702 LIVE OAK ST, SUITE 200 BEAUFORT, NC CASWELL PO BOX 698 YANCEYVILLE, NC CATAWBA PO BOX 132 NEWTON, NC CHATHAM PO BOX 111 PITTSBORO, NC CHEROKEE 40 PEACHTREE STREET MURPHY, NC CHOWAN 730 N GRANVILLE STREET EDENTON, NC CLAY 54 CHURCH ST HAYESVILLE, NC CLEVELAND PO BOX 1299 SHELBY, NC COLUMBUS PO BOX 37 WHITEVILLE, NC CRAVEN 406 CRAVEN STREET NEW BERN, NC CUMBERLAND 227 FOUNTAINHEAD LANE, SUITE 101 FAYETTEVILLE, NC CURRITUCK PO BOX 177 CURRITUCK, NC DARE P.O. BOX 1000 MANTEO, NC DAVIDSON P O BOX 1084 LEXINGTON, NC DAVIE 161 POPLAR ST. SUITE 102 MOCKSVILLE, NC DUPLIN PO BOX 975 KENANSVILLE, NC DURHAM PO BOX 868 DURHAM, NC EDGECOMBE PO BOX 10 TARBORO, NC FORSYTH 201 N. CHESTNUT STREET WINSTON SALEM, NC FRANKLIN PO BOX 180 LOUISBURG, NC GASTON P O BOX 1396 GASTONIA, NC GATES PO BOX 621 GATESVILLE, NC GRAHAM PO BOX 1239 ROBBINSVILLE, NC GRANVILLE PO BOX 83 OXFORD, NC GREENE PO BOX 583 SNOW HILL, NC GUILFORD P O BOX 3427 GREENSBORO, NC HALIFAX PO BOX 101 HALIFAX, NC HARNETT PO BOX 356 LILLINGTON, NC HAYWOOD 63 ELMWOOD WAY, SUITE A WAYNESVILLE, NC HENDERSON PO BOX 2090 HENDERSONVILLE, NC

11 County Boards of Elections HERTFORD PO BOX 416 WINTON, NC HOKE PO BOX 1565 RAEFORD, NC ext:1550 HYDE PO BOX 152 SWAN QUARTER, NC IREDELL 203 STOCKTON ST. STATESVILLE, NC JACKSON 876 SKYLAND DRIVE, SUITE 1 SYLVA, NC JOHNSTON PO BOX 1172 SMITHFIELD, NC JONES PO BOX 263 TRENTON, NC LEE PO BOX 1443 SANFORD, NC LENOIR PO BOX 3503 KINSTON, NC LINCOLN 115 W. MAIN ST, ROOM 201 LINCOLNTON, NC MACON 5 WEST MAIN ST FRANKLIN, NC MADISON PO BOX 142 MARSHALL, NC MARTIN PO BOX 801 WILLIAMSTON, NC MCDOWELL PO BOX 1509 MARION, NC ext:342 MECKLENBURG PO BOX CHARLOTTE, NC MITCHELL 11 N MITCHELL AVE, ROOM 108 BAKERSVILLE, NC MONTGOMERY PO BOX 607 TROY, NC MOORE PO BOX 787 CARTHAGE, NC NASH PO BOX 305 NASHVILLE, NC NEW HANOVER 230 GOVERNMENT CENTER DR., SUITE 38 WILMINGTON, NC NORTHAMPTON PO BOX 603 JACKSON, NC ONSLOW 4024 RICHLANDS HWY JACKSONVILLE, NC ORANGE PO BOX 220 HILLSBOROUGH, NC PAMLICO PO BOX 464 BAYBORO, NC PASQUOTANK PO BOX 1797 ELIZABETH CITY, NC PENDER PO BOX 1232 BURGAW, NC PERQUIMANS PO BOX 336 HERTFORD, NC PERSON 331 SOUTH MORGAN STREET ROXBORO, NC PITT PO BOX 56 GREENVILLE, NC POLK PO BOX 253 COLUMBUS, NC RANDOLPH 158 WORTH STREET, SHAW BUILDING ASHEBORO, NC RICHMOND PO BOX 1843 ROCKINGHAM, NC ROBESON PO BOX 2159 LUMBERTON, NC ROCKINGHAM PO BOX 22 WENTWORTH, NC ROWAN 130 W. INNES ST. SALISBURY, NC RUTHERFORD PO BOX 927 RUTHERFORDTON, NC SAMPSON 120 COUNTY COMPLEX ROAD SUITE 110 CLINTON, NC SCOTLAND 231 EAST CRONLY ST, SUITE 305 LAURINBURG, NC STANLY PO BOX 1309 ALBEMARLE, NC STOKES PO BOX 34 DANBURY, NC SURRY 115 SOUTH MAPLE STREET GRAHAM, NC SWAIN PO BOX 133 BRYSON CITY, NC TRANSYLVANIA P O BOX 868 BREVARD, NC TYRRELL PO BOX 449 COLUMBIA, NC

12 County Boards of Elections (cont.) UNION PO BOX 1106 MONROE, NC VANCE 300 S. GARNETT ST., STE C HENDERSON, NC WAYNE 209 S. WILLIAM STREET GOLDSBORO, NC WILKES 110 NORTH STREET, RM 315 WILKESBORO, NC WAKE P O BOX 695 RALEIGH, NC WILSON P O BOX 2121 WILSON, NC WARREN PO BOX 803 WARRENTON, NC YADKIN PO BOX 877 YADKINVILLE, NC WASHINGTON PO BOX 1007 PLYMOUTH, NC YANCEY PO BOX 763 BURNSVILLE, NC WATAUGA PO BOX 528 BOONE, NC