Early voting begins Wednesday, January 16, and continues through Thursday, January 31, for the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary Elections, according to Linda Radford, Carroll County Administrator of Elections. Voters must select a candidate from the Democrat or Republican ticket.

Democrat candidates include: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson.

Republican candidates are: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson.

Persons who choose the Republican Primary may also choose delegates in that party. Voters may select delegates committed to the candidate of their choice or those committed to one of the other candidates within the party, according to the election commission office.

No other elections will be on the February ballot in Carroll County.

Early voting will take place at the Carroll County Election Commission office, located in the County Office Complex, 625 High Street, Suite 113. Registered voters can cast ballots from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on weekdays; and on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Parking is available at the rear entrance of the building and will be designated by a sign stating, “Reserved for Early Voters.”

Voters are required to have a signature identification to vote. Elderly or handicapped voters whose polling place is not accessible may vote at the election commission office on Election Day if they submit an affidavit not less than ten days prior to Election Day. These voters may also vote by absentee ballot or during early voting.

No voting will take place on January 21, which is Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.

Anyone who has moved within the county should update their address with the election commission by January 31, said Radford.

In the presidential primary four years ago, 3,130 Carroll County residents, or 18 percent of 17,978 registered voters, cast ballots.

As of Tuesday morning, Carroll County has 18,900 residents registered to vote.

Anyone who wishes to vote by mail, must have registered in person, or must have voted in at least one election in person, according to the Carroll County Election Commission office.

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