One-Stop voting has been unusually slow, according to the Scotland County Board of Elections.

Voter turnout for One-Stop Early Absentee Voting, which started last week, has been well below expectations, elections Director Dell Parker said.

Voting began Oct. 15, with about nine voters casting ballots the first day.

"It's been really slow," Parker said. "As of today, we've only had 57 voters, so it has been really slow."

Most of the voters have been from Laurinburg.

Just two voters have come from Gibson, Parker said, and only one from East Laurinburg. No one from Wagram has voted.

Parker was unsure why voter turnout has been so low.

She said part of the issue is historically low turnout for municipal elections. Parker encourages anyone who may be unable to come out on the first Tuesday of November to participate in One-Stop.

"Early voting ends Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. That will be the only Saturday we are open, but we are open 8 to 5 on Monday through Friday for the rest of this week and all of next week."

Parker also said the 2010 primaries are coming up in May and her office is looking for volunteers to help at the polls. Seats up for reelection in 2010 include the Scotland County Sheriff Shep Jones, members of the county commission and school board, state legislators, Senator Richard Burr and Rep. Larry Kissell.

Applications are being accepted at the Scotland County Board of Elections office at 213 E. Cronly Street.

Candidate Filings

-----------------------

Laurinburg

At-Large Council Member

Rembert DeBerry (incumbent)

Kenton Spencer

District 1 Council Member

Herbert Rainer (incumbent)

Hattie Pegues Ray

District 2 Council Member

Tommy Parker (incumbent)

East Laurinburg

Mayor

Wayne Caulder

Harry F. Pittman

Commissioner (three seats)

Jimmy L. Biggs

Betty Robbins

Beverly Robbins Scott

Marshall Stevens (incumbent)

Robert Lee Wallace (incumbent)

Gibson

Mayor

Ronnie Hudson (incumbent)

Commissioner (Three seats)

Mack “Pete” Wilkins

Lula Adelle Cottingham

Charles Freddie Webb

Wagram

Mayor

Milton Farmer (incumbent)

Council Member (Three seats)

Hyder Massey, Jr (incumbent)

Robert McLaughlin (incumbent)

Mack "Pete" Wilkins