Carrboro residents can vote in a special election today to choose the newest member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. But don’t expect there to be any long lines at the polls.
Tracy Reams, director of the Orange County Board of Elections, said early voting — which began on Feb. 28 and lasted about two weeks — only drew four voters.
“That’s very low,” she said.
Reams said the low numbers might be because the candidate, Carrboro resident Damon Seils, is the only one on the ballot.
She said the town would be lucky to see a two percent turnout rate today.
The position was vacated when former Alderman Dan Coleman resigned on Jan. 5 to move to Australia.
Alderman Lydia Lavelle said the board had no choice but to hold the special election because of a law in Carrboro’s charter banning appointments to the board.
The law was changed after the board ran into trouble in 2006 with a three-to-three tie decision on Coleman’s appointment to the board.
“Once you commit to have the election, you need to go forward with that election,” she said.