Politics

Recount scheduled for Buddy Byrd, Perry Dixon race

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Friday, May 18th, 2012, 12:07pm

Recount scheduled for Buddy Byrd, Perry Dixon race

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Ballots for a political race in Columbus County will be recounted next week.

Workers with the Columbus County Board of Elections will conduct a recount of the District 3 County Commissioner primary race between incumbent Buddy Byrd and former Sandyfield Mayor Perry Dixon.

During vote canvassing, it was discovered that Byrd beat Dixon by 26 votes, which is six more votes than on election night.

The recount will take place at the American Legion Post #137 on Monday, May 21 at 4 p.m.

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85% of Columbus Co. voters in favor of constitutional amendment

Submitted by Justin West, Assignment Manager

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 12:19pm

85% of Columbus Co. voters in favor of constitutional amendment

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The North Carolina constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman passed with 61% of voters being in favor of the amendment.

In all, only seven counties in the state voted to oppose the amendment. Those were: Wake, Orange, Durham, Chatham, Mecklenburg, Buncombe and Watauga.

Four out of the five counties in the WECT viewing area voted overwhelmingly in favor of the amendment. Columbus County had some of the highest amount of support for the measure, with 85% of voters in favor of the constitutional amendment.

The constitutional amendment reads, "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts."

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Stay with WECT on election night

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Sunday, May 6th, 2012, 4:28pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – WECT will have full coverage of the Primary Elections Tuesday, bringing you results on air, online and on your mobile phones.

ON AIR

As usual, WECT will keep you updated on air throughout the evening as results are being tallied. Be sure to watch WECT News at 11 for complete results and other news coverage.

ONLINE

Election results will be posted online as they are counted in each county Tuesday night. You will be able to find them at the top of WECT.com. We will also have various reports about the winners of each race, in addition to any other news coverage. Be sure to check out your community for races specific to your area.

WECT will be on Facebook and Twitter election night gathering input from viewers just like you. Be sure to like WECT on Facebook to join the conversation.

MOBILE

New this year - you can receive the results to major races via text message Tuesday night. Text WECTVOTE to 30881 or fill out the form online at the top of the Decision 2012 page to sign up for the alerts. Message and data rates may apply.

Also, make sure to download the WECT News App for all election results, stories and other news coverage of the day. The free app is available for Blackberry, Android, iPhone and iPad devices. If you don't have a smartphone but would still like to stay informed, just log onto our mobile site at m.wect.com from your phone's browser.

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Sign up to receive election results via text message from WECT

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Saturday, April 21st, 2012, 3:04pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – It can be tough to decide which candidate to vote for during the upcoming elections.

WECT’s Decision 2012 page can make the decision easier.

You can learn about each candidate—both locally and nationally—and read about the latest political news. You can also watch candidate forums, find out how and where to vote, and keep track of results.

While you’re perusing the page, make sure you sign up to receive election results via text message on the night of the primary election, which is May 8.

All you have to do is enter your mobile phone number on the top of the Decision 2012 page.

Don’t forget, message and data rates may apply. You will receive up to 10 messages per day. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to stop.

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Board of Elections, off-site locations set to open for one-stop voting

Submitted by Jon Evans, WECT/Fox Wilmington anchor

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012, 4:46pm

Board of Elections, off-site locations set to open for one-stop voting

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – One-stop voting begins Thursday, April 19 across North Carolina, and runs through Saturday, May 5. Primary election day is set for May 8.

Voters will be deciding on several state-wide offices, along with seats in Congress and the General Assembly. Many County Commission and School Board races are also on the ballot, along with the question of Amendment One, the proposal to write into the state constitution that marriage is only between one man and one woman.

Here is a list of early voting locations, dates and times in Columbus County:

Board of Elections, Whiteville

Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Off-site locations are open from 2 to 8 p.m.

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Candidate forum planned in downtown Whiteville

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012, 5:10pm

Candidate forum planned in downtown Whiteville

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - On April 19 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a candidate forum at the Vineland Depot in downtown Whiteville.

Local and state candidates are expected to attend the event.

The Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring and putting the forum together.

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Some concerned with new voting district representation

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Friday, March 30th, 2012, 11:56am

Some concerned with new voting district representation

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Some people are concerned that area counties will be left out when it comes to decisions in Raleigh, now that voting districts have been redrawn.

The number of representatives for each county is based on numbers from the Census. Mecklenburg County has 11, Wake County as 9, but Columbus County only has one.

Many people have voiced concerns about being neglected on the state level because their representative is out-numbered.

"I think they can still work with the representatives and come up with some compromises, because those people need help too,” explained Representative Dewey Hill. “Sometimes they need one vote to help them with something in their area."

Voting districts are redrawn every 10 years.

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