Some of our clients have told us they would like to be better informed about candidates running for public office in the Nov. 2 general election.

The judicial races are extremely important to the rights of working people. We need judges on the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals who are fair to all sides in their interpretation of workers’ compensation laws. The following candidates for judge are very qualified and have been endorsed by groups interested in preserving the rights of injured workers:

N.C. Supreme Court

Judge Robert C. “Bob” Hunter

N.C. Court of Appeals

Judge Rick Elmore (incumbent)

Judge Martha Geer (incumbent)

Judge Jane Gray (Calabria seat)

Judge Sanford Steelman (incumbent; unopposed)

In addition to these races, 13 candidates are running for the N.C. Court of Appeals seat vacated by Judge Jim Wynn. In this race, a voter may select a first, second, and third choice. Election officials will count the number of first-place votes. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the first-place votes, the two candidates with the most first-place votes advance to an “instant runoff.”

For this race, we encourage voters to follow the endorsements of the N.C. Advocates for Justice by selecting Cressie Thigpen as the first choice and Stan Hammer as the second choice. The NCAJ has not yet endorsed a third-choice candidate.

Appellate judges run non-partisan—not as Republicans or Democrats. Their position on the ballot is easy to overlook, because they are listed separately from county, state and federal races.

It is easier than ever to vote. Many people find it convenient to vote prior to the Nov. 2 election at their local county Board of Elections office or another one-stop absentee voting location. These sites will accept your vote from Oct. 14 to Oct. 30, even if you have not previously registered to vote. If you’re not registered, you will need to fill out a registration form and bring one of the following documents with you, showing your name and current address: a N.C. driver's license, tax or utility bill, bank statement, vehicle registration, paycheck stub, student ID or other government-issued ID.

You can also request a mail-in absentee ballot from your county Board of Elections. However, the completed ballot must be received before Nov. 2. The Guilford County Board of Elections has offices at 301 W. Market St., Greensboro, and 505 E. Green Drive, High Point. If you live elsewhere, contact the State Board of Elections online or at (866) 522-4723 to find out where the Board of Elections is in your county.