Voting for congressional seats begins

Absentee voting began this week in 16 congressional primaries across the state after a federal court in February ordered legislators to redraw district lines.
Election day is June 7 and will include a statewide primary for N.C. Supreme Court.
The State Board of Elections is encouraging voters to consider participating by mail in what is expected to be a low-turnout election.
The state’s stand-alone congressional primary in 1998 drew only 4 percent of registered voters.
“Voting by mail helps ensure that graduation ceremonies and summer travel won’t keep you from participating,” said Executive Director Kim Westbrook Strach.
Citing the unexpected nature of the June Primary, members of the State Board ordered counties to carry-forward absentee ballot requests from the March Statewide Primary.
County officials are now mailing more than 55,000 ballots with more requests expected before the civilian deadline on May 31.
Multi-partisan Assistance Teams
Special assistance is available for voters living in care facilities, such as nursing homes.
Upon request, county boards of elections will send Multi-partisan Assistance Teams forms, mark their ballot or serve as required witnesses.