With the general election fast approaching, polite or not, everyone seems to be voicing political opinions.

On Nov. 6, voters will have the opportunity to do more than talk about politics. Residents who have not registered to vote have until Friday, Oct. 12 to do so.

According to a recent report provided by the Ashe County Board of Elections, Ashe has 18,904 registered voters. Of these voters, 7,990 are Republicans, 6,475 are Democrats, 4,403 are Unaffiliated, and 36 are Libertarians.

One-Stop No Excuse Absentee Voting will be held Thursday, Oct. 18 through Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Ashe County Board of Elections Office on the 2nd floor of the Ashe County Courthouse. The Board of Elections Office hours are: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Those who miss the deadline for registration may register during the One-Stop Absentee Voting period, but must vote at the same time.

For those voting on election day, ballots may be cast at one of Ashe County’s 15 polling places located throughout 17 voting precincts. Sample ballots are available online or at the Ashe County Board of Elections Office.

Races and candidates on this year’s election ballot (vote for one unless otherwise stated) are:

US President / Vice President: Democrats Barack Obama / Joe Biden, Republicans Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan, Libertarians Gary Johnson / James P. Gray.

US House of Representatives: Democrat Elisabeth Motsinger and Republican Virginia Foxx

NC Governor: Democrat Walter H. Dalton , Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Barbara Howe.

NC Lieutenant Governor: Democrat Linda D. Coleman and Republican Dan Forest.

NC Attorney General: Democrat Roy Cooper.

NC Auditor: Democrat Beth A. Wood and Republican Debra Goldman.

NC Commissioner of Agriculture: Democrat Walter Smith and Republican Steve Troxler.

NC Commissioner of Insurance: Democrat Wayne Goodwin and Republican Mike Causey.

NC Commissioner of Labor: Democrat John C. Brooks and Republican Cherie Berry.

NC Secretary of State: Democrat Elaine Marshall and Republican Ed Goodwin.

NC Superintendent of Public Instruction: Democrat June Atkinson and Republican John Tedesco.

NC Treasurer: Democrat Janet Cowell and Republican Steve Royal.

NC State Senate District 45: Democrat Roy J. Carter and Republican Dan Soucek.

NC House of Representatives District 93: Democrat Cullie Tarleton and Republican Jonathan C. Jordan.

Ashe County Board of Commissioners (vote for three): Democrats Richard C. Blackburn, Marty Gambill and Dan McMillan, and Republicans Gerald Price, Larry Rhodes and Gary W. Roark.

Ashe County Board of Education (vote for two): Lee Beckworth and C.B. Jones.

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Jack Krider and Russell F. Vannoy.

Non-partisan state Judges races are:

Supreme Court Associate Justice: Sam J. Ervin IV and Paul Martin Newby.

Court of Appeals Judge: Linda McGee and David S. Robinson.

Court of Appeals Judge: Wanda Bryant and Marty McGee.

Court of Appeals Judge: Chris Dillon and Cressie Thigpen.

District (23) Court Judge: Jeanie Reavis Houston.

For more information, contact the Ashe County Board of Elections at (336) 846-5570 or visit www.ashecountygov.com/departments/board-of-elections.