Early voting will be done for this year&squo;s municipal election only at the elections office. Voters who live within the town limits of Columbus, Tryon or Saluda can cast early votes between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early voting will end on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

Absentee ballots are also being mailed. Absentee voting&bsp; will end on Oct. 27.

This year&squo;s election will be held on Nov. 3 and each town has openings in both mayor and council seats.

In Columbus, incumbent mayor Kathleen McMillian is being challenged by Eric McIntyre and incumbent council members Michael Gage, Ricky McCallister and Margaret Metcalf are being challenged by Earnestine Kan and David Weiss.

In Saluda, incumbent mayor Rodney Gibson is being challenged by Fred Baisden and John Morgan, who is a current commissioner. Commissioner John Kinard is being challenged by William &dquo;Hop&dquo; Foster and George Sweet. The seat of council member Laura Fields is also open. Although her name will be on the ballot, she just announced she wants to withdraw from the race. (see article above).

In Tryon, incumbent Mayor Alan Peoples is running unopposed and incumbent council members Dennis Durham and Jim Scott are being challenged by Douglas Arbogast, Seth Davis and William &dquo;Wim&dquo; Woody.