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Voters wishing to avoid long lines on May 8, can cast a ballot during early voting, which began Thursday and continues until May 5.

Ballots may be cast at the Scotland County Annex Conference Room, 231 East Cronly Street.

That location will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On May 5, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Any registered North Carolina voter may choose to vote in person using early voting, which is also called one-stop because first-time eligible voters can register and vote on the same day.

The May 8 election serves as a primary for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians voting in county, state and federal elections, but serves as the general election for the county Board of Education, which is non-partisan. Unaffiliated voters can choose to vote in the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian or Independent primary.

The Scotland County Board of Elections mailed out new voter registration and verification cards to all registered voters in the county in the aftermath of recent redistricting, which may cause some confusion.

Anyone with questions can contact the Board of Elections office at 277-2595.

Democrats will have the most choices in competitive races in county elections, but have no choice for president, where Barack Obama is unopposed.

Democrats will be voting for District 8 in the U.S. House of Representatives, governor, lieutenant governor, commissioner of Agriculture, commissioner of Labor, treasurer, county Register of Deeds, state Senate and the Laurel Hill, Stewartsville and at-large districts on the county Board of Commissioners.

Republicans will have essentially the same choices, but will vote for a president, although Mitt Romney has clinched the nomination.

Republicans will also be voting for District 8 in the U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, commissioner of Agriculture, commissioner of Insurance, secretary of state, superintendent of Public Instruction, and treasurer.

Libertarians will be voting for a president.

Everyone will cast ballots for Board of Education, with three seats up in the Stewartsville Township up for election. Incumbent Charles Brown, of Wagram, was the only filer for School Board at large.

The May 8 vote serves as the General Election for the school board, which is is non-partisan.

All the ballots will have the Amendment One referendum, with a for vote being to place on the state constitution a ban on same-sex marriage, and against vote being not to place the ban in the state constitution.

The only voting choice for Independents will be Amendment One and the school board.