Elections officials are correct in encouraging Twin Counties residents to take advantage of the ease and convenience of one-stop early voting.

The early voting period for the May 8 primary election began Thursday and runs through May 5. Nash and Edgecombe counties each have two one-stop early voting sites that will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Nash County has early voting sites set up in the Nash County Agriculture Center at 1006 Eastern Ave. in Nashville and in the Booker T. Washington Alumni Center at 225 S. Church St. in Rocky Mount. Edgecombe County has early voting sites at the Edgecombe County Administration Building at 201 Saint Andrew St. in Tarboro and in the Nash-Rocky Mount Board of Education Administration Building at 800 N. Fairview Road in Rocky Mount.

Early voting allows people to avoid long Election Day lines and cast their ballots at a time that is convenient for them. Elections officials say it will take five minutes or less for most people to vote at the one-stop sites.

Voting at a time and place of one’s choosing also helps people to avoid potential bad weather on Election Day or an emergency or other incident that might arise that could prevent them from going to the polls that day. It also is a great help for people who will be taking an elderly or handicapped resident to the polls.

Turnout during the first two days of early voting last week was much lighter than expected. We urge residents to avoid the Election Day rush and vote early this year.