Crowds are expected in the coming days and weeks as polls open at One-Stop Early Voting today at 8 a.m.

Dell Parker, director of the Scotland County Board of Elections, expects a large turnout for the midterm elections.

"We have a lot of candidates on the ballot," she said. "... I am anticipating a large crowd.

The sheriff's race typically draws a lot of voters to the polls, she said.

"I would just like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the early voting period," Parker said. "We've done a good job staffing it and the wait should not be more than five minutes. I'd like to encourage people to come out now and avoid a line on election day."

Participating in One-Stop, which is being held in the conference room at the Scotland County Annex Building at 231 E. Cronly Street, is just as simple as voting on election day, she said.

"If they are already a registered voter, they will state their name, address and party affiliation and they will be processed and given a ballot to vote," Parker said.

Those who aren't registered to vote in North Carolina but would like to vote may register at One-Stop. They must fill out the normal registration information and will have to provide additional proof of residence, such as a recent bill, to show the Board of Elections that the voter lived in Scotland County.

For unaffiliated voters, there is a choice in which ballot to fill out. When a registered voter without an affiliation is processed at the polls for the primary, they will be given the choice of either filling out the Democrat, Republican or unaffiliated ballot.

Choosing a partisan ballot will not affect the voter after the election.

"After the primary, you are still registered as an unaffiliated."

Parker said a lot of people changed their party affiliation to unaffiliated.

There are 22,192 registered voters in Scotland County as of Friday, the deadline to register, with 14,032 registered as Democrats, 3,652 registered as Republicans, nine registered as Libertarian and 4,499 registered as unaffiliated. There are 103 more registered voters than on March 16, with 163 more unaffiliated voters, 26 more registered Democrats, one more registered Libertarian and 87 fewer Republicans.

Parker would not comment on why the demographic shifted.

One-Stop is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with May 1 being the last day and only Saturday to vote early. Polls will close at 1 p.m. on May 1. Election day is May 4.