The May primary election is less than a month away, and prospective voters who are not already registered must do so by the end of this week.

Registration books will be closed at 5 p.m. Friday in preparation for the May 4 election.

However, this will not be the only opportunity to register and vote in the primary election. State law now allows a person to register and vote on the same day during the one-stop early voting period, which begins April 15 and ends May 1.

Same-day registration and voting is not allowed on Election Day, according to a spokesperson for the Moore County Board of Elections.

Residents who are not registered are advised to register by the Friday deadline. This may be accomplished through a visit to the Board of Elections office in Carthage or by mail. For those mailing in a registration, the form must be postmarked by Friday.

Although registration is now allowed during the one-stop early voting period, the process does delay the voter, who must bring identification in order to register.

FORUM - The League of Women Voters of Moore County will conduct a candidates' forum on Thursday, April 22, for contested races in the May 4 primary elections.

The 7 p.m. forum will be held at the Seven Lakes West (Beacon Ridge) Community Center and will be open to the public free of charge.

Candidates invited to participate include state Senate District 22 - Republicans Harris D. Blake, incumbent, and Richard T. Morgan; Moore County Board of Commissioners District III - Republicans Cindy R. Morgan, incumbent, and Craig Kennedy; and candidates for the nonpartisan Board of Education - District 3 (one seat) Charles R. Lambert, incumbent, and Johnnie J. McNeill; at large (three seats) Sue Black, J. Dale Frye, Pam Thompson, all incumbents, and Ed Dennison, Enola G. Lineberger, Thomas D. Jones, and Karen M. Wicker.

(The Lambert-McNeill race will not appear on the May 4 ballot because election law requires more than double the number of candidates for a primary election for seats on the Moore County Board of Education. The League decided to include these candidates in the forum because the election is contested.)

Candidates will first be asked questions prepared by the sponsors, then will field questions submitted by audience members.

The League is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that emphasizes good government and voter education. Questions or comments can be directed to Mary Lou Bernett, voter services chairwoman, at (910) 692-8839.

TAYLOR - Dr. James Taylor, of Southern Pines, one of seven Republican candidates for the 6th District seat in the U.S. Congress, will join two other physician candidates in other congressional districts at a third town hall meeting Thursday in Greensboro.

The forum on the future of health care will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Summit Room at the Marriott Greensboro Downtown, 408 North Greene St.

"Now more than ever, Americans need more physicians in Congress at the table fighting to protect patient interests," said Taylor in a news release from his campaign office. "Our focus in these town hall meetings is not only to explain the future of our health care system under this legislation, but also to show that by working together, we physicians, patients and the business community, using true free-market principles, can restore the practice of medicine to its patient-focused roots and protect the sacred doctor/patient relationship."

Also taking part Thursday will be Dr. B.J. Lawson, a candidate in the 4th District, and Dr. Dan Eichenbaum, a candidate in the 11th District.

COBLE - Meanwhile, 6th District Congressman Howard Coble is busy covering his district during the spring break.

His schedule includes a speech before the Moore County Republican Men at Country Club of North Carolina at noon Thursday.

Coble was in Greensboro and High Point Tuesday for several appearances, including honoring a surprise winner of the congressional arts contest at Caldwell Academy and a surprise recent Parris Island graduate. He had lunch at an elementary school, addressed the Greensboro Association of Electrical Contractors and met with constituents in his High Point office.

His Wednesday schedule began with constituent appointments in his Asheboro office, followed by a tour of the Randolph Asheboro YMCA and a speech before the Elon Law School Republican Group. In the afternoon he will meet with constituents with appointments in his Greensboro office and will address the High Point University College Republicans.

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