One stop/early voting begins next week in Cornelius at Town Hall under a new schedule adopted by the Mecklenburg Board of Elections. Voters can cast their ballots starting Monday Oct. 21 from 10 am to 7 pm through Friday Nov. 1 in the Community Room in Town Hall.

Based on past experience, it’s a good way to meet and engage with candidates outside, and lines move quickly.

Cornelius voters will be selecting all five commissioners for the Town Board out of a field of seven candidates. Incumbent Mayor Woody Washam is running unopposed.

Three at-large seats on the CMS School Board are up for grabs. A total of 13 candidates are running.

Voters will also pass judgment on a referendum to raise the Mecklenburg County sales tax by .25 cents. If approved, this quarter-cent sales tax would provide approximately $50 million annually for parks, arts, and education.

Residents from any precinct—and any town in Mecklenburg—can vote in Cornelius during early voting.

For those who would rather vote even sooner, polls open Oc.t 16 at the Hal Marshall County Annex, 618 N College Street in Charlotte. Early voting starts there Wednesday at 8 am.

Election Day this year is Tuesday Nov. 5, and polls in Cornelius will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. There are four polling places on Election Day: Community in Church Lutheran Church, 7621 Norman Island Drive; Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road; Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, and Cornelius Town Hall.

To check and see which polling place is yours, contact the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections at 704-336-2133.