2026 PRIMARY ELECTIONS
Election Day: Tuesday, March 3rd
Early Voting: February 12th – February 28th
Click here to read “My Take on This Year’s Primary Elections” and the importance of voting this election cycle.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see my marked sample ballot endorsements or CLICK HERE.
Resources and Information:
For complete information on how to register and vote on the same day; early voting locations and hours; where and when to vote on Election Day; a list of Election Day Precinct locations; and a full discussion of candidates on your March 3rd Democratic ballot, use the navigation bar at the top or side of your page. All candidate discussions are presented in ballot order.
UNAFFILIATED VOTERS MAY REQUEST A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT. Without requesting a Democratic or Republican ballot, an unaffiliated voter will be handed an unaffiliated ballot, which consists of only of one of the two Board of Education races or no races at all.
PAY ATTENTION: There are several versions of the March 3rd Democratic ballot for Watauga County. Your ballot will offer different candidate choices or no candidate choices for School Board and County Commission based on what district the Raleigh Legislature dictated for you. My marked ballot below is one version of the primary ballot with handwritten endorsements for School Board should your ballot offer one of those races.
If you want to view your actual ballot, do this: Go here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ Fill in at least your first and last name and county and submit. Then click on your name. Then scroll all the way down to the category “Your Sample Ballot.” Click on the one for the March 3rd primary, and it will show what ballot you will receive at the polls.
THE DISCLAIMER: What is Pam’s Picks?
“Pam’s Picks” is simply one person’s opinion about the 2026 Primary Election Ballot. I am a progressive Watauga resident and have long held interest in local politics and issues. I am an activist for voting rights and environmental and community issues and generally endorse the candidate who most reflects and espouses my progressive ideology. Pam’s Picks endorsements may or may not reflect endorsements of a political party, but Pam’s Picks is independent of any political party.
What’s in Pam’s Picks?
General voting information (when, where, and how) and information on all candidates whose names will appear on your March 3rd Watauga County Democratic Primary Election ballot. The “Candidate Discussion” is presented in the order candidates will appear on your ballot. I have researched candidate campaign platforms and records where available. Information for my candidate discussions comes from candidates’ responses to the “Pam’s Picks Questionnaire,” candidate voting records, press reports, and/or other sources. I have also supplied candidate web site references and/or Facebook links where available. While the Watauga Board of Education races are “non-partisan,” I provide candidates’ party affiliations. I believe knowing the party affiliation of a candidate provides context and can suggest how a candidate’s decision-making might be guided by underlying beliefs and principles. For additional information, you can follow the provided links or contact candidates directly with your questions.
FURTHER NOTE: You have some excellent candidate choices on your ballot this year. Some of my endorsements have been an extremely close call for me to make this year. Regardless of whether you agree with my personal ballot choices, it’s important that you vote for your favored candidates.
This is how I will cast my ballot:
Click here for a printable “Pam’s Picks” marked sample ballot for the March 3rd primary elections (PDF file). You can print out or take a picture of the above marked sample ballot and take it with you into your polling place or access “Pam’s Picks” on your phone inside the polling place. You are NOT allowed to use your cell phone to take pictures of your ballot or selphies once inside the polling place.