By FULLER ROYAL

With nearly a dozen races to decide, Columbus County’s polling places for Tuesday’s primary will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.

As with other primaries in non-presidential election years, voter turnout is expected to be light.

Voters will have several major races to choose from, including deciding Democrat nominee for District Attorney – Rex Gore or Alexis Jane Prease. The winner will face uncontested Republican candidate Jon David.

Democrats Bobby Joe Long and Ronald Gene Gore are challenging incumbent District 7 County Commissioner David L. Dutton Jr. The winner of that race will face Republican Sammy Hinson this fall.

The District 6 county commissioner race is up for grabs with candidates David L. McPherson and Ricky Bullard seeking the seat left vacant by Kip Godwin. The winner could face a challenge from unaffiliated candidate Howell Strickland. Strickland must first gather the signatures of 200 registered voters to be included on the ballot.

District 1 County Commissioner Amon McKenzie, a Democrat, is unopposed in the primary. He faces a challenge from Republican Randall Adams in November.

District 13 Superior Court Judge Bill Gore is seeking an associate justice seat on the State Supreme Court. He is running against Robin Hudson, Gus Gray, Ann Marie Calabria and Jill Cheek.

In the State Court of Appeals race, there are two open seats. For the first seat, the candidates are Robert C. (Bob) Hunter, Bill Constangy and Kris Bailey. For the second seat, the candidates are Linda Stephens, Donna Stroud and Christopher L. Parrish.

In the race for the N.C. Senate District 8 seat, the candidates are Republicans Bill Fairly and Shirley C. Babson. The winner will face incumbent R.C. Soles, a Democrat, in November.

In the fall, incumbent Democrat State Rep. Dewey Hill will face a challenge from Republican Ray Gilbert.

More than 600 voters have already placed their votes using the one-stop, no-excuse voting at the Board of Elections office or the satellite voting stations throughout the county.

Three new voting machines, representing all of the county’s precincts, were set up at the Columbus County Board of Elections office. By Friday, at lunch, more than 400 voters had used those machines.

One-stop, no excuse voting ended on Saturday a 1 p.m.

The satellite one-stop voting ended Friday.

About nine had voted in Bolton. Sixteen had voted in Chadbourn. Seven had voted at East Columbus High School. At Fair Bluff Fire and Rescue, 24 voted. Seventeen had voted at Tabor City.

Tuesday, April 25 was the last day to request an absentee ballot in writing except due to sickness or disability.