In this week's update:
- NC Voting by mail begins!
- Mark Your Calendar! Important Election Dates
- Check out NASW-NC's updated Social Work VOTING Information webpage
- VOTE411 -Online Nonpartisan Voter Guide
- Upcoming NC Election Debates
- Attend NASW-NC Webinar "How the Election will Impact Social Work in NC"
- Register for 2024 NASW-NC Virtual Fall Conference
NC Voting by mail begins!
The first absentee ballots were sent out on Friday to military and overseas voters. More than 100 of those ballots have been returned, meaning the first votes of the 2024 election have already been cast, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, told reporters on Monday. Absentee ballots will begin going out to all other voters who’ve requested them on Tuesday. According to the State Board of Elections, over 207,000 voters have already requested absentee ballots as of Monday.
CAN I STILL REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT? Yes. Voters can request an absentee ballot until Tuesday, Oct. 29. These can be requested online using the state board’s absentee ballot portal or by filling out a paper request form (also available on the state board’s website) and bringing it to the local county board of elections. The State Board of Elections encourages voters to make their request as soon as possible to ensure they have enough time to fill out their ballot and return it.
CAN ANYONE REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT? Anyone who is a registered voter who has not already voted using a different method can request an absentee ballot. The deadline to register to vote in this election is Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. Prospective voters can register online, in person at the DMV or by mail.
WHEN DO ABSENTEE BALLOTS HAVE TO BE RETURNED BY? Absentee ballots must be returned to a voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. This is different than previous elections. North Carolina law used to instruct election officials to count any absentee ballots that came in within three days of Election Day, so long as they were postmarked by Election Day. This is no longer the case, and any absentee ballots that come in after 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 will not be counted.
WHAT IF I DECIDE I WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON INSTEAD? If a voter requests an absentee ballot, but then decides to vote in person instead, they are allowed to do so. If a voter chooses to do this, they must destroy or discard their absentee ballot.
Read More Here at News and Observer.
Mark Your Calendar! Important Election Dates
NASW-NC Encourages you to VOTE IN-PERSON during early voting October 17-November 2. We recognize everyone does not have that option. If you are voting by absentee ballot, please mail it back as soon as possible & consider mailing it back with a tracking item; such as certified mail; delivery notification, etc... Your Ballot Will Not Be Counted If Not Received By BY 7:30PM on November 5th!!!!
2024 General Election Dates and Deadlines
Here are key dates and deadlines for the 2024 general election in North Carolina:
- Oct. 11: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.).*
- Oct. 17: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available.
- Oct. 29: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*
- Nov. 2: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
- Nov. 5: General Election Day.
- Nov. 5: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*
*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.
(Source: NCSBE.gov)
Check out NASW-NC's updated Social Work Voting Information webpage
NASW-NC has updated its Social Work VOTING Information webpage as a resource for all of your election needs! Be sure to visit and bookmark this page as we will be add any breaking news from the NC State Board of Elections or the NC General Assembly around the 2024 General Election!
VOTE411 -Online Nonpartisan Voter Guide
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina announces that its non-partisan voter guide, VOTE411.org , is now ready to be used by North Carolinians as they prepare to cast their ballots in the November 5 general election. VOTE411.org is a comprehensive resource on voting information where citizens can learn about the policy positions of candidates, get detailed instructions on registering to vote, find an early voting location in their county, confirm their Election Day polling place, learn about acceptable forms of voter ID, and take the guesswork out of the absentee-by-mail process.
Voters in 40 counties – which are represented by 14 local League of Women Voters organizations – can also access personalized candidate voter guides. For those counties, the League of Women Voters has contacted all statewide and local candidates, giving them the opportunity to provide voters with their contact information, responses to broad survey questions, and personal profiles.
VOTE411.org continues the commitment of the League of Women Voters to provide the information voters need to become empowered citizens. From the League’s founding in February 1920, it has been dedicated to the belief that citizens should play a critical role in our democracy. Citizens can utilize VOTE411.org to help them make a plan and VOTE this election season.
Upcoming NC Debate Schedule
A series of debates between Council of State candidates will take place over the next two months leading up to the election.
Read more about it here: NCIOPL Announces 2024 Hometown Debate Series
The debate slate is as follows:
- Oct. 1, the labor commissioner debate at Johnston County Community College will feature Democratic nominee Braxton Winston and Republican nominee Luke Farley.
- Oct. 8, the state treasurer debate at Greensboro College will feature Democratic nominee Wesley Harris and Republican nominee Brad Briner.
Each hourlong debate will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will air on Spectrum the following Sunday.
(source: ProStateAffairs.com)
Attend NASW-NC Webinar "How the Election will Impact Social Work in NC"
As the 2024 Election approaches, NASW-NC staff and volunteers will be hosting the webinar "How the Election Will Impact Social Work in North Carolina" on several dates. This webinar will give an overview of how the election will impact social work and social workers in North Carolina (including in the 2025 North Carolina Legislative Session), and explain the importance of upholding the Social Work Code of Ethics, section 6.04 (Social and Political Action) by getting out the vote!
1 hour of CE is offered for this event. NASW-NC members and all social work students can attend for free. The cost for folks who are not yet members of NASW-NC is $15. Please note that the content of this presentation will be the same each time it is given.
Register for the webinar that best fits into your schedule today!
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 webinar - hosted by the Asheville LPU - 12pm -1pm
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 webinar-hosted by the Orange County LPU -6pm-7pm
Register for 2024 NASW-NC Virtual Fall Conference:
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE!
Registration is now OPEN for the 2024 NASW-NC Virtual Fall Conference!
Registration Fees:
Members $125
NASW members from other states can contact education.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance in registering.
Not yet a member? $250
The Fall Conference is a meeting for the entire profession. Everyone from the social work student to the LCSW in private practice can benefit from the presentation offerings.
Some of this year’s topics include:
- Ethical Responsibilities in Assessment and Referral in Care for Teens
- Treating Body-Focused Repetitive Behavior Disorders
- Utilizing Tenets of Emotional Intelligence to Liberate Burnt-Out Providers
- Fired Up! The Role of Anger in Trauma Recovery
- Leveraging Your Leadership Style in Supervision
- Moving Towards Values with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Exploring the Connection between the Arts and Social Justice Work
- Maintaining a Healthy Relationship: Couples Work for the Helper
- And Much More!
You Get ALL the CE!
Because we are in a virtual setting, you benefit by getting MORE CE! 13 hours of CE will be LIVE! All sessions will be recorded and available to view for 3 weeks after the conference for you to receive an additional 18 hours of Recorded CE - a total of 31 hours of CE
Click here to join NASW and save on CE costs and more!
Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.
Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.
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