Republican voter registrations picked up steam by the end of November, but unaffiliated registrants continued to grow at a higher rate.

The Dec. 1 registration report from the Moore County Board of Elections shows that the county added 297 voters between Nov. 2 and Dec. 1. That brings the total to 60,595.

A breakdown of the new registrations shows 132 unaffiliated voters, 126 Republicans and 39 Democrats.

Moore County registration books, as of Dec. 1, had 25,629 Republicans, 18,370 Democrats, 16,480 unaffiliated, and 116 Libertarians.

GOP - The Moore County Republican Party Executive Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the Courts Facility in Carthage.

Questions about the meeting may be called to Joe Garrison at (910) 690-4511.

VOTES - Congressman Howard Coble voted with the majority on the tax cuts bill last week.

The measure, extending the Bush tax cuts and including economic stimulus provisions, passed 277-148.

Coble voted against an amendment that would have changed the estate tax rate. The amendment failed on a 194-233 vote.

On the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" bill, Coble joined fellow North Carolina Republicans in voting against the measure that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

In the Senate, both Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, and Sen. Kay Hagan, a Democrat, voted in favor of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." However, they split on the tax cuts bill, with Burr voting in favor and Hagan voting against.

McCULLOUGH - For-mer state Appeals Court Judge Doug McCullough will return to the bench.

His top rival for the office, incumbent Cressie Thigpen, conceded to McCullough on Monday.

The election was unusual because it was the first time North Carolina used the instant runoff voting method in a statewide election with multiple candidates. Thirteen candidates were named on the Nov. 2 ballot to fill a vacancy created by the appointment of Judge James Wynn to a federal judgeship last summer.

Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed Thigpen to fill the position until the Nov. 2 election.

Under the instant runoff voting system, voters were given the opportunity to mark their ballots for their first, second and third choices, a method intended to avoid the expense of a second primary, which traditionally attracts a poor turnout at the polls.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@the-pilot.com.