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A second primary will be this month to determine the Republican nominees for two statewide races, and early voting is already underway for eligible voters.

During the first primary held on March 5, no Republican candidate in the race for lieutenant governor or state auditor secured more than 30 percent of the votes. Therefore, a second primary will be held for voters to select one candidate to move on to the general election later this year.

The second primary will be held on Tuesday, May 14.

Candidates on the ballot for lieutenant governor will be Hal Weatherman and Jim O’Neill. Candidates for state auditor will be Jack Clark and Dave Boliek.

All registered Republicans can vote in the primary, as well as unaffiliated voters who either didn’t vote in the March primary or who voted a Republican ballot in the March primary. Same-day registration will not be available during early voting for the second primary.

Early voting began on Thursday, April 25 and will conclude on Saturday, May 11.

Gates County’s early voting site at the Board of Elections Office, located at 25 Medical Center Road, Gatesville. The site will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.

For more information, call the Gates County Elections Office at 252-357-1780.

Voters must show a photo ID when they check in to vote. Most voters will use their driver’s license, but other forms of photo ID are accepted as well. Voters without a photo ID can either fill out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID or bring their ID to their county board of elections office by 5 p.m. on May 24.

Free photo IDs are available at the county board of elections offices during the early voting period. Residents can also obtain a free non-driver ID from their local DMV office.

Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or dropped off at the county board of elections office. Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on election day, May 14.

Polls will be open on the second primary election day, May 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The general election will be held on November 5.