Student Union website will be open for voting on Election Day – The Appalachian

The Plemmons Student Union polling site opened at 6:30 a.m. on Election Day in Watauga County 19 other sites in the district.

When the polls opened locally, there were four people in line. Many voters said they came early to avoid waiting in line later in the day.

“I just wanted to get here early so I could get in line, get through and get out,” said JL Laws, one of the first four voters on the student union election site.

Voters can only vote in their assigned precinct on Election Day. If a voter goes to the wrong precinct in the same county in which they are registered, they can fill out a form provisional ballot and their vote will still be counted during the county election period.

Voters in line said they were concerned about issues like abortion rights. Other voters said faith played a role in voting.

“I just pray, 'Lord, you know who we need, you know what we need,'” Laws said. “So I’ll leave it to him.”

Michael Behrent, chairman of the Watauga County Board of Elections, came to vote at the opening of the student union.

Behrent said he brought a list of people in the county who had already voted by absentee ballot to display on the student union election page. He said it is a “legal requirement” for all polling places in the county.

“I have to sign this in the electoral board,” said Behrent. “So I was down there and signed the documents and decided I was going to go over there too and vote at the same time.”

Polling stations close today at 7:30 p.m Election results will be updated as they come in throughout the night and over the next few days.

Flora Seed, a second-year social work student and voter on the student union election page, said if voters are still unsure about whether to go to the polls, “It's the last day, so you better make sure.”

To stay up to date on live election results, visit The Appalachian's website.