Moore County Board of Elections officials are looking for a few more voters to participate in the early voting process for the second statewide primary. So far, a few are all that have turned out, with 180 visiting the polls at last count.

“I think it’s a matter of the public being unaware that there is a primary currently under way,” said Glenda Clendenin, director of the Moore County Board of Elections. “People call us for ballots in connection with the November election, but we tell them that we need to get this runoff over with first. They just don’t know that there’s a primary.”

Clendenin said that a lack of advertising may be one reason that many are uninformed.

“There are few political signs being displayed, and candidates are not advertising,” she said. “Except for members of the Moore tea party bringing signs in support of their candidates and an occasional mention in the media, there’s little being said.”

Early voting in the second primary began June 28 and ends Saturday at the Board of Elections offices. The official Election Day will be July 17, with all polls open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

The second primary is needed for just one Democratic primary race and four Republican races. Candi-dates in these seats failed to get at least 40 percent of the vote in the May primary.

On the Democratic primary ballot, Marlowe Foster and John C. Brooks are competing for their party’s spot as candidate for state commissioner of labor.

The Republican ballot is a bit meatier:

• Dan Forest and Tony Gurley are competing for lieutenant governor.

• Eagle Springs resident and former state Rep. Richard Morgan faces Mike Causey for commissioner of insurance.

• Kenn Gardner and Ed Goodwin are competing for secretary of state.

• John Tedesco and Richard Alexander are vying for superintendent of public instruction.

Normal primary voting rules apply.

“Only registered Democrats or Republicans can vote in their respective party’s primary,” Clendenin said.

“Voters affiliated with the Libertarian Party do not have a second primary (while) unaffiliated voters who did not participate in the first primary may vote in the second and vote their choice of ballot, if a ballot choice is applicable to the county or precinct in which they reside.”

The hours for early voting will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through today. On Saturday, the offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“I hope everyone will take advantage of these opportunities to vote, and will come out either by Saturday or on Tuesday, July 17,” Clendenin said.

In other election news, N.C. House of Representatives District 78 candidate Joel Adam McClosky, a Democrat, has withdrawn from the fall race.

A replacement nominee is needed by Aug. 23 or McClosky’s name will appear on the November ballot, Clendenin said.

The Moore County Board of Elections office is at 700 Pinehurst Ave. in Carthage.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz@thepilot.com.