Voters wait outside of a Cincinnati Board of Elections to place their vote on Oct. 2. The early-voting period for North Carolina will begin on Thursday. | Associated Press photo

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Bob Shiles

Staff writer

LUMBERTON — Voters in Robeson County and across the state get the chance to start casting their ballots for the Nov. 6 General Election on Thursday.

The early voting period begins at 8:15 a.m. Thursday and ends on Nov. 3. Early voting is also called one-stop voting because first-time eligible voters can both register to vote and cast their ballots on the same day.

Robeson County is operating four polling sites for early voting. For the first time voters will also have the chance to vote on a Sunday.

The polling sites will be at the Board of Elections Office, 108 W. Elizabethtown Road; Fairmont Fire Hall on South Main Street; the Pembroke Library on Blaine Street; and the Red Springs Community Center on Cross Street.

Hours for voting at the Board of Elections Office will be weekdays 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

The hours for all three satellite polling sites will be: closed Monday and Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 20, Oct. 27, Nov. 3, all Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Dock Locklear, director of the county Board of Elections, said this morning that he anticipates a large turnout of voters on the first few days of the early voting period.

“If 2008 is any indication, tomorrow is going to be a big day,” he said. “I’m looking for this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to all be big days.”

Locklear also said that the three satellite polling sites are being opened to make it more convenient for voters throughout the county to get to the polls.

“It will help accommodate the voters who live in outlying areas of the county,” he said.