County Elections Supervisor Kristin Scott said four Republicans switched to the Democratic Party while 16 switched to unaffiliated.

Voters have until April 11 to change their party affiliation to be eligible to vote in the Democratic primary. Switching to Democratic or unaffiliated is the only way Republicans will be able to vote in the heavy Democratic primary, Scott said.

Unaffiliated voters must state their preference at the polls. If they don't, it is up to the poll workers to ask them their preference.

At issue in the primary are key board of commissioner seats; electing a sheriff as well as a district attorney.

The board of commissioner seats of Rives Manning, James Pierce and Vernon Bryant are up. The Halifax County Board of Education seats of Clarence Carmen, Suzy Lynch-Evans and Tyus S. Few are also up.

The clerk of court seat of Becky Spragins is also up.

Voters will also go to the polls to vote for the Weldon City Schools Board of Education seats of Pattie Cotton, Tonya Byrd-Robinson, Edith Jenkins and Tim Green.

In state races, the Senate District 4 seat of Angela Bryant is up, as is the House 27 seat of Michael Wray.

The U.S. District 1 seat of G.K. Butterfield is up; so is the seat of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan.

Filing begins February 10 at noon and ends on the last day of February at noon.

As of today, there are 4,899 registered Republicans in Halifax County, compared to 26,538 Democrats and 6,005 unaffiliated voters. There are 68 Libertarians, who must also switch their party affiliation to vote in the Democratic primary.