By noon Thursday, no one had cast a ballot in the early voting phase of the November Municipal Elections in Bladen County.

"It's been quiet thus far," said Bladen County Board of Elections director Larry Hammond. "We were ready to go at 8:30 this morning, and no one has shown up. I was surprised."

Thursday was the first day of early voting for town council and mayor seats in East Arcadia, Clarkton, Bladenboro, White Lake, Dublin, and Tar Heel.

Elizabethtown municipal elections were held earlier this month. Hammond said voter turnout was strong there in the early voting, with around 43 percent of the total votes being cast up to two weeks early.

"We had people the first day," Hammond said. "This time, that's not the case."

Voters use the same ballot format, and votes are counted on election night just like all other ballots. The state established the early voting procedure in 2000 to encourage more voter participation, especially in historically slow races like town governments and off-year state elections.

"We really hope people will take advantage of this opportunity," Hammond said. "It's a lot more convenient for some people to cast their votes early, especially if they think they might be out of town on election day."

Voters must go to the Board of Elections office on Cypress Street in Elizabethtown to cast their early votes. On election day, voters must go to their regular polling places.

Hammond said early voting will end Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. For more information, or to check that your registration information is correct, contact the Board of Elections at 862-6951.

Dublin, East Arcadia, White Lake, Tar Heel, Bladenboro, and Clarkton all will elect town council members Nov. 4. In addition, White Lake, East Arcadia, Clarkton, Tar Heel, and Dublin will have the chance to vote for mayor.

White Lake Mayor Goldston Womble, Dublin Mayor Horace Wyatt, and Tar Heel Mayor Phillip Allen face no competition in their races.

Incumbent commissioners in White Lake, Dublin, and Tar Heel also face no competition.

Due to an electronic malfunction, it was incorrectly reported in Tuesday's edition of the Bladen Journal that only one town council seat was open in Dublin. Incumbent commissioners David Kirby and David Hursey are seeking reelection, along with Mayor Wyatt. All three races are uncontested.

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