03/29/2024
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By Erin Smith

One Stop Voting for municipal elections begins today (Thursday, October 19th) and ends on Saturday, November 4th, and voting will take place at the Bladen County Public Library in Elizabethtown.

Dublin, East Arcadia, and Tar Heel have opted out of One Stop Voting. By opting out of One Stop voting, voters must cast their ballots on the day of the election — Tuesday, November 7th.

There was some confusion as to whether the Dublin Town Board wanted to participate in the One Stop Voting or not. During the Board of Elections meeting conducted on Tuesday, it was learned a letter signed by the town clerk was sent to the Board of Election in July stating the town would take part in One Stop Voting. Then last week, Town Councilman David Kirby arrived at the Board of Elections questioning the letter from the town clerk. He then returned a few days later with a second letter signed by Dublin Mayor Horace Wyatt stating the town of Dublin wished to opt out of One Stop Voting.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Board of Elections Director Cynthia Shaw said she contacted the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh regarding the situation and the two letters. It was learned that the Dublin Town Board had not met to discuss the subject at either time which the State Board of Elections said made the letters invalid, according to Shaw. The State Board of Elections ruled that based on a resolution the Dublin Town Board adopted in the 2015 election, which allowed the town to opt out of the One Stop Voting, they can opt out of One Stop Voting this time. Any absentee ballots that had already been submitted will be counted.

In addition to electing members to the town boards this year, voters in the town of Dublin will have the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” to beer and wine.

The resolution submitted to the Bladen County Board of Elections reads:

Malt Beverage Election

To permit the “on-premises” sale only of malt beverages. For or Against

To permit the “off-premises” sale only of malt beverages. For or Against

Unfortified Wine Election

To permit the “on-premises” sale only of unfortified wine. For or Against

To permit the “off-premises” sale only of unfortified wine. For or Against

A complete listing of candidates can be viewed by clicking here.

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