Beaufort County voters have today and part of Saturday to take part in the early voting process.

Today, voters may mark ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Beaufort County Board of Elections office, Suite 104, 1308 Highland Drive, Washington. They also may vote from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the board’s office. Voters may mark ballots from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at early voting satellite locations in Aurora, Belhaven and Chocowinity.

The Aurora site is located at the Aurora Community Building, 442 Third St. The Belhaven site is located at the John A. Wilkinson Center, 144 W. Main St. The Chocowinity site is located at the Chocowinity Volunteer Fire Department, 512 E. N.C. Highway 33 East.

On Election Day (Tuesday), polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

Because of changes in North Carolina’s voting laws, the early voting period was reduced from 17 days to 10 days. Because the Beaufort County Board of Elections is not open Sundays, voters had nine days to mark ballots during that 10-day period.

Changes in North Carolina voting laws that took effect Jan. 1 removed an option that allowed people to register to vote and mark ballots the same day up until Election Day. The changes, approved by the N.C. General Assembly in 2013, included eliminating straight-ticket voting. Also, provisional ballots cast outside a voter’s precinct will not be counted, according to elections officials.

In Beaufort County races, voters will select a new sheriff. Sheriff Alan Jordan is not seeking re-election. Democrat Al Whitney and Republican Ernie Coleman are seeking to become the next sheriff.

County voters will choose three commissioners from five candidates seeking the three available seats on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners this election cycle. Republicans Ron Buzzeo, Keith Kidwell and Frankie Waters face challenges from Democrats Ed Booth and Robert Cayton. While Booth is an incumbent commissioner and Cayton is a former commissioner, not one of the Republican candidates has served on the board.

Voters also will decide between incumbent Marty Paramore, a Democrat; Jimbo Shiver, a Republican; and Eva M. Buck, an unaffiliated candidate, in the race for clerk of Beaufort County Superior Court.

North Carolina voters also will vote on a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution. Voters will decide if they are for or against the proposal.

The proposed amendment is worded on the ballot this way: “Constitutional amendment providing that a person accused of any criminal offense for which the State is not seeking a sentence of death in superior court may, in writing or on the record in court and with the consent of the trial judge, waive the person’s right to a trial by jury.”