GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) -People in the east are out early voting for the second primary election this year.

In an uncommon runoff race, residents could be seen casting their ballot in the annex of the Board of Elections building in Greenville Friday.

Carl Joyner says he votes as an act of service to our country.

“I don’t let many of them go by that I don’t,” Joyner said. “I don’t always get the candidate right, but it gives me the right to at least express my concerns if I don’t and I feel better about doing my patriotic duty.”

Pitt County Board of Elections Deputy Director Racheli Vidal says registered Republicans and unaffiliated voters who did not vote or voted the Republican ballot in the first primary are eligible.

She says second primaries are being held statewide for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor and State Auditor.

“The number of votes that were gathered by the candidates in the first election, no one won by a wide enough or large enough margin,” Vidal said. “For that reason, it moved into the second primary just for those races where they had close results.”

Election officials say residents will also choose the Republican nominee for U.S. House District 13, including Caswell, Person, Franklin, lLee, Harnett, and Johnston counties — and parts of Wake and Granville counties.

Joyner says it’s important to vote in order set a good example for the next generation.

“In my own family, I have children that a polling precinct is the furthest thing from their mind and I have to do a better job of educating them of their responsibilities so that they do participate one day,” Joyner said.

Election day is May 14th with polls opening from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 pm. You will need to vote at your precinct on that day.