Martin County has a three-member board of elections and a director of elections. Members are William Earl Newsome (Democrat), Chairman, Arnetta P. Roberson (Republican), Secretary, and Tom Brandon, III (Democrat), Member. The Director of Elections is Faye M. Martin.

The members are appointed by the State Board of Elections in June of odd-numbered years; thus they serve two-year terms. The selections are made from people nominated by the state chairmen of the political parties. Only two of the members may be from the same political party. Traditionally, two members are appointed from the governor's party and one from the other major party.

The board elects one of its members as chairman and one as secretary. The law specifies the date for required meetings. Also, the board meets on the third Monday of each month (if necessary). All meetings are held at 5:00 p.m. in the Elections' office, Room 120 at the Governmental Center, 305 E. Main Street in Williamston, N. C. All meetings are open to the pubic.

All funds for the board of elections come from the board of county commissioners.

The elections' board registers voters and conducts elections. The elections' board sets precinct lines, arranges for a polling place in each precinct, provides precinct officials with supplies, advertises elections, examines petitions for elections and for candidates, prepares ballots, issues absentee ballots, receives local campaign contribution reports, provides voter information, determines election results and certifies winners, office planning, managing, budgeting and record keeping, and does all the other things necessary to registering voters and holding elections.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM. until 5:00 PM, closing from 12:00Noon until 1:00 PM for lunch.

The number of registered voters in Martin County as of December 31, 2008 is 18,267.

Our county is divided into thirteen voting precincts. The Board appoints one Chief Judge and two Judges of Election for each precinct. You may contact the Elections' office for a list of precinct officials.

If a North Carolina resident has missed the 25 day deadline for voter registration, he/she may register and vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting.

To vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting, a resident must fill out a voter registration application and prove residency by providing appropriate identification with current name and current address. The new registrant may vote ONLY at a One-Stop Absentee Voting Site in the county of registration during One-Stop Absentee Voting and not on Election Day.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

A North Carolina driver’s license with current address

• A North Carolina driver’s license with current address
• A utility bill with name and current address
  • A telephone or mobile phone bill
  • An electric or gas bill
  • A cable television bill
  • A water or sewage bill
• A document with name and current address from a local, state, or U.S. government agency:
  • A passport
  • A government-issued photo ID
  • U.S. military ID
  • A license to hunt, fish, own a gun, etc.
  • A property tax bill
  • Automotive registration
  • Certified documentation of naturalization
  • A public housing or Social Service Agency document
  • A check, invoice, or letter from a government agency
  • A birth certificate
• A student photo ID along with a document from the school showing the student’s name and current address.
• A paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement
• A bank statement or bank-issued credit card statement

Proof of residence does not include any piece of mail addressed to the voter.
If you cannot supply acceptable Proof-of-Residence, your registration form cannot be processed until the required information is provided.

Bear Grass, four-year term; Everetts, Hamilton, Hassell, Jamesville, Oak City, two- year terms; Parmele, Robersonville (District 1, 2 and At-large) and Williamston (District 1, 2 and At-large, four-year term.

United States House of Representatives, two-year term
       Congressional First District, effective 1998 elections   

State Senate, two-year terms, effective 2004 elections
       District 3 - Counties, Edgecombe, Martin and Pitt

State House of Representatives, two-year term, effective 2004 elections
       District 8 - Counties, Martin and portion of Pitt

Second Judicial District, Counties -Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell
       Superior Court Judge (8 years), next election, Nov 2010,
       District Attorney (4 years), next election, Nov 2010,
       District Court Judge, 2 (4 years), next election, Nov 2012,
       District Court Judge, 2 (4 years), next election, Nov 2010.

Board of Commissioners, 5 members, four-year term
       Eastern District, 3 members, Townships: Williamston, Bear Grass, Jamesville, Williams and
       Griffins,     
       Western District, 2 members, Townships: Poplar Point, Goose Nest, Hamilton, Robersonville and
       Cross Roads

Non-partisan Board of Education, 7 members, four-year term
       School District 1, 2, 4 and 6