One-stop voting, which begins Thursday, is expected to be almost as popular this year as going to the polls on Election Day.

Residents who want to vote in the Nov. 4 general election but did not register by the Friday, Oct. 10, deadline, now have an opportunity to register and vote on the same day. Same-day voting and registration will be carried out during the early voting period.

An article in the Sunday edition of The Pilot gave the false impression that all ballots cast by same-day voter-registrants would be set aside as provisional ballots, not to be counted until the canvass five days after the election.

Moore County Elections Director Glenda Clendenin said that same-day voter registrants must show valid identification when they register, and the ballots marked by those presenting valid identification will be counted along with all other ballots cast the one-stop way and those cast on Election Day.

However, anyone wishing to register and vote on the same day but not presenting valid identification will be required to mark a provisional ballot.

VALID ID -- Clendenin explained the same-day register and vote process:

"In-person registration at a one-stop site was not encouraged prior to the registration deadline," she said. However, a citizen who is eligible to register and vote, but failed to meet the Oct. 10 deadline may appear in person at a one-stop site with valid identification and register and vote during this time period. The voter must be prepared to vote at the time they appear at the one-stop site to register. This process cannot be done on election day. If the intended voter cannot provide the required ID, their ballot must be provisional."

ONE-STOP -- One-stop voting will begin Thursday only at the Moore County Agriculture Center on Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage.

The site is across the street from the Board of Elections office. Hours will be 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Then on Monday, Oct. 20, one-stop absentee voting will begin at two other sites, the Old West End Gym and the new Aberdeen Recreation Station. Hours will be 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

One-stop voting will also be held at all three sites on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. It will end the next Saturday, Nov. 1, when all three sites will again be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Because of keen interest in the presidential election this year, election officials across North Carolina are recommending that voters use the one-stop early method to vote. Long lines are expected at polling places on Nov. 4, when the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

One-stop, or early, voting, is a form of absentee voting. It does not matter in which precinct a voter a resides, he or she may vote at any one of the three sites in Moore County. Voter registration information will be verified by computer. However, on Nov. 4 all voters must go to the polling place in their precinct to vote.

FORUM -- Candidates for nonpartisan offices will participate in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Moore County on Thursday.

Taking part will be candidates for Board of Education and Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors.

The forum will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Senior Enrichment Center on U.S. 15-501 about two miles north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle. It is open to the public free of charge.

SALES TAX -- Moore County voters have twice turned down tax initiatives, but eight counties are trying for an additional sales tax on Nov. 4.

A ninth county has placed a land transfer tax on the Nov. 4 ballot.

CountyLines, monthly publication of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, reports that voters in Burke, Cherokee, Chowan, Columbus, Guilford, Henderson, Mitchell and Nash will decide for or against an additional quarter-cent sales tax on Nov. 4. Polk County is the only county placing a land transfer tax on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Moore County voters overwhelmingly rejected a land transfer tax in a referendum held on the date of municipal elections last November. They turned down the additional sales tax measure in a referendum held during the May primary elections.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.