The early bird gets the worm, and the early voter can mark his or her ballot at the Beaufort County Board of Elections Wednesday, as one-stop voting kicks off throughout eastern North Carolina in the 3rd Congressional District primaries.

One-stop voting continues weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections through April 26, with the exception of April 19, which marks Good Friday. On Election Day, April 30, all 21 of Beaufort County’s precincts will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For those who are not currently registered to vote, the deadline to do so and vote on Election Day was last Friday. During the one-stop voting period, however, voters can register and vote on the same day at the Beaufort County Board of Elections, provided they have one of the following:

• A North Carolina drivers license
• A government-issued photo ID
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document
• A current college/university photo ID with proof of campus habitation

In order to secure their place as the party’s nominee in the general election, any given candidate will have to amass 30 percent of the vote during the primary. With 17 republicans and six democrats running, that 30-percent plurality may be difficult to obtain during the primary. On the Libertarian ticket, there are two candidates, while one person is running on the Constitution Party ballot.

If Republican, Democratic and Libertarian candidates all manage to secure the 30-percent needed during this month’s election, then the general election will be held on July 9. If a runoff election is needed to determine the party nominees, then the July 9 election will become a second primary, with the general election on Sept. 10.

“It’s important to vote,” Beaufort County Board of Elections Deputy Director Anita Bullock Branch said. “Just because it’s an off-season election, it’s still a Congressional election.”

For those who can’t make it to the Board of Elections during one-stop voting or on Election Day, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is April 23. For further details on the upcoming election, visit www.beaufortncboe.org, email beaufort.boe@co.beaufort.nc.us or call the BOE at 252-946-2321.