Voters get new polling site in east Havelock

Voters in the east precinct of Havelock will have a new location to cast their ballots this year.

The Craven County Board of Elections approved a change that would switch the polling site from the Havelock High Performing Arts Center to the Havelock Moose Lodge on East Main Street.

“When the opportunity presented itself, the board weighed the options and determined it would be a great benefit to the voters,” said Erin Burridge, director of elections in Craven County.

The Moose Lodge, located at 1007 East Main St., will host early voting from April 15 to May 1, primary election day voting on May 4 and general election voting on Nov. 2.

“A lot of times with a private facility, they want to charge you a fee,” Burridge said. “But they (Moose Lodge) are doing this because they feel it’s part of their civic duty.”

Burridge said there was nothing that was inherently wrong with the voting location at the Performing Arts Center.

“It can get difficult sometimes to navigate for voters and students,” Burridge said. “Sometimes we feel like we’re getting in their way.”

She pointed out that Craven County Schools is a tremendous partner for the elections board, as evidence by the use of Tucker Creek Middle School as the polling location for west Havelock voters for the primary and general elections.

“We’re enthusiastic,” Burridge said of the change. “We think this is going to be a win-win not only for the voters but also for the poll workers.”

Early voting for the May primary will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning April 15. Times will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 1.

Voter registration for the May primary ends April 9, though registration can be done while voting at the early-voting locations.

Other early voting locations in Craven County include the Cove City and Vanceboro fire departments and the New Bern Scottish Rite building at 516 Hancock St. No voting will take place at the Board of Elections office.

This year’s election includes a number of primary battles, including for U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

For more information, call the Craven County elections office at 636-6610 or go online to the elections office Web site at www.cravencounty.com/departments/elc.cfm.