Olma Echeverri, who chairs the Hispanic-American Democrats of North Carolina, will be the speaker for the Saturday meeting of the Democratic Women of Moore County.

Echeverri will give an overview of the Latino vote in North Carolina and discuss ways to help the Democratic Party to reach this constituency and encourage them to vote.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Hampton Inn in Aberdeen (off U.S. 15-501 behind Best Buy). The meeting is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend, according to Mindy Fineman, spokeswoman for the Democratic Women.

FORUM - The League of Women Voters will move its series of candidate forums to Southern Pines Thursday.

The 7 p.m. forum will be held at Penick Village House, 500 E. Rhode Island Ave.

Invited to participate are mayoral candidates David McNeill and Chris Smithson and the four candidates for two seats on the council, James R. "Jim" Simeon, Marsh Smith, Fred C. Walden and David Woodruff.

The first forum was held in Whispering Pines Tuesday night. The series will end Oct. 18 in Pinehurst.

ELECTION - Other dates connected with the Nov. 8 municipal elections are looming.

The Moore County Board of Elections reports that absentee ballots will be available by mail on Monday. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Nov. 1.

Registration books will close Friday, Oct. 14, and eligible residents interested in voting on Nov. 8 must register with the board by that date if they are not already registered.

One-stop absentee voting will begin Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Agricultural Center on Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage, across the street from the election office. One-stop voting will end at 1 p.m. on Nov. 5.

The elections board will conduct elections in all 11 municipalities in Moore County on Nov. 8.

PLANNING - The Moore County Planning Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. in the historic courthouse in Carthage.

The board will hear a request from the town of Carthage for extension of its extraterritorial jurisdiction. If approved, the extension would encompass 371 parcels. Also on the agenda is consideration of a recommendation on the Moore County Working Lands Protection Plan.

The board will hold a work session Oct. 12 to discuss the subdivision regulations portion of the draft Unified Development Ordinance.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@the-p ilot.com.