slideshow

North Carolina will hold a primary May 8. Early voting in that primary will be held through Saturday.

On the Republican ballot, voters may choose Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum or no preference in the presidential race. For the U.S. House of Representatives, the candidates are Richard Hudson, Scott Keadle, Vernon Robinson, Fred F. Steen II and John M. Whitley.

In the race for Governor, voters may choose from Jim Harney, Scott A. Jones, Jim Mahan, Pat McCrory, Charles Kenneth Moss or Paul Wright. Dale Folwell, Dan Forest, Tony Gurley, Grey Mills and Arthur Jason Rich are running for lieutenant governor.

Voters may choose from Joseph Hank DeBragga, Greg Dority, Debra Goldman, Fern Shubert and Rudy Wright in the race for N.C. Auditor. Bill McManus and Steve Troxler are running for N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture.

James McCall, Richard Morgan and Mike Causey are the candidates for N.C. Commissioner of Insurance. Voters may choose from A.J. Daoud, Kenn Gardner, Ed Goodwin and Michael (Mike) Beitler in the race for N.C. Secretary of State.

Ray Ernest Martin, David Scholl, John Tedesco, Richard Alexander and Mark Crawford are running for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction. Frank Roche and Steve Royal are the candidates for N.C. Treasurer.

In the race for N.C. State Senate, voters may choose from Gene McIntyre and Jack T. Benoy. Richard Johnson, John L. Barker and Mark Brody are the candidates for N.C. House of Representatives.

On the Democratic ballot, voters may select Barack Obama or No Preference in the presidential race. In the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, the candidates are Larry Kissell and Marcus W. Williams.

Walter H. Dalton, Gary M. Dunn, Bob Etheridge, Bill Faison, Gardenia M. Henley and Bruce Blackmon are running for governor. The candidates for Lt. Gov. are Eric L. Mansfield and Linda D. Coleman.

Walter Smith and Scott Bryan are running for N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture. Marlowe Foster, Ty Richardson and John C. Brooks are the candidates for N.C. Commissioner of Labor.

Voters may choose Ron Elmer or Janet Cowell for N.C. Treasurer. Gene McLaurin and Daniel Wilson are running for N.C. State Senate.

Dale Nelson and Tony Benton are the candidates for N.C. House of Representatives.

On the Libertarian ballot, voters may choose from Roger Gary, R.J. Harris, Gary Johnson, Carl Person, Bill Still, Lee Wrights or No Preference in the presidential race.

All ballots will have a proposed constitutional amendment. The text on the ballot is: “Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” Voters may vote “for” or “against” the measure.

Gay marriage is already prohibited by law in North Carolina. Voters may vote “for” the measure if they want this prohibition to be enshrined in the North Carolina Constitution and “against” if they do not want this prohibition in the document.