From Staff Reports 

This year, North Carolina voters will elect a U.S. senator,  U.S. representatives, state legislators, a majority of the state Supreme Court, and numerous county officials and school board members. These people enact and enforce the laws that affect one’s everyday life.. 

Polling sites will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 with for Election Day in Asheville and Buncombe County. Those eligible must vote in your assigned polling place. Early voting ended Nov. 1.

This year, North Carolina voters will elect a U.S. senator,  U.S. representatives, state legislators, a majority of the state Supreme Court, and numerous county officials and school board members.  These people enact and enforce the laws that affect one’s everyday life. 

Those who are in the line by 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote. If a voter casts his ballot in another precinct, it probably will not count. If an individual is not sure where his precinct polling place is, call the Buncombe County Board of Elections at 250-4200.

When an individual goes to vote in 2014, an elections official will ask for one of the acceptable types of photo IDs that will be required in 2016, but one does not need to show it to vote this year.

The new law is being challenged in court. It would require a person inside the polls to present one of these, beginning in 2016: a NC driver’s license or ID card from the NCDMV; military or veterans card; passport; or a tribal enrollment card.

Until 2016, the only voters who need to show some kind of ID at the polls are the new or first-time voters in a county whose registration could not be finalized because of some incomplete information on the registration form. When they go to the polls, that voter may show any photo ID or a non-photo ID document, such as a utility bill with the voter’s address, a bank statement, or a notice, permit or letter from any government agency. It is generally advisable to carry a photo ID or other ID document to the polling site.

Among the races are the following:

• U.S. Senate — incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan is being challenged by Republican Thom Tillis and Libertarian Sean Haugh.

• District 10 House of Representatives — Republican incubment Patrick McHenry is facing a challenge from Democrat Tate McQueen.

• District 11 House of Representatives — Republican incumbent Mark Meadows is being challenged by Democrat Tom Hill.

• District 115 House of Representatives (Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Fairview, Barnardsville) —  Republican incumbent Nathan Ramsey is squaring off with Democratic challenger John Ager.

• District 116 House of Representatives (Leicester, Enka, Candler, Biltmore Forest, Arde) — Republican incumbent Tim Moffitt is facing Demoratic challenger Brian Turner.

• North Carolina Senate District 48 (South Asheville, Arden, Biltmore Forest, Skyland) — Republican incumbent Tom Apodaca is being challenged by Democrat Rick Wood. 

• North Carolina Senate District 49 (Central Asheville, West Asheville, Emma Community, Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Barnardsville) — incumbent Democrat Terry Van Duyn is facing Republican challenger Mark Crawford.

• Buncombe County Commissioner District 2 (Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Fairview, Barnardsville) — Democrat incumbent Ellen Frost will face a challenge from Republican challenger Christina G. Merrill.

• Buncombe County Commissioner District 3 (Leicester, Enka, Candler, Biltmore Forest, Arden) — Republican primary winner Miranda DeBruhl will face a challenge from Terry Waldrop, who is running as “unaffiliated.” In the Republican primary, DeBruhl defeated Republican incumbent David King. After the primary, Waldrop, who is married to King, got enough votes on a petition to qualify to be listed on the ballot. To get on the ballot without the backing of either of the major parties, Waldrop needed to collect 2,300 signatures from registered voters in the district by June 27. She exceeded that goal, submitting 3,279 verified signatures to the Buncombe County Board of Elections more than a week before the deadline. The Democrats are not fielding a candidate in the race.

• County Board of Education, Enka District — Nancy Park Cooper is facing Max Queen in a battle of newcomers to the office.

• County Board of Education, Erwin Disrict — incumbent Pat Bryant will be facing challenges from Stephanie Buckner and Jason Summey.

• County Board of Education — Reynolds District, incumbent Lisa Baldwin is being challenged by Cindy McMahon.

• County sheriff — Democratic incumbent Van Duncan is facing a challenge from Republican Mike Bustle.

• District attorney — Democratic primary winner Todd Williams is facing Ben Scales, who is running as “unaffiliated.” The Republicans are not fielding a candidate in the race.

• North Carolina judge candidates for District 28 — incumbent Ed Clontz will be challenged by J. Matthew Martin. (There are four other N.C. District Court Judge District 28 seats up for election, but all other candidates are running unopposed.)

Among the candidates who are running unopposed in the general election are the following:

• N.C. House of Representatives District 114 — Democratc incumbent Susan Fisher.

• Buncombe County Commissioner District 1 — Democratic incumbent Brownie Newman.