RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The June 7 congressional primary election has officially begun with absentee voting. Ballots can be requested until May 31.

The state Board of Elections reports that special assistance is available upon request to help voters in care facilities be able to vote. The board assures that those who assist are nonpartisan.

Election Day is June 7. Primaries will be held for all 13 congressional districts, plus a seat on the N.C. Supreme Court and seats on the bench of two Superior Court Districts.

The primary for congressional seats was not held in March due to a court order that said two districts had been wrongly drawn with race as the key factor. The districts were redrawn and have been submitted for court approval. The primary will go forward unless or until a court makes a different determination.

The Supreme Court seat is on the June 7 ballot due to a different court decision. The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that General Assembly action to hold a retention election for a Supreme Court seat that's on the ballot -- rather than a full contested election between candidates -- was unconstitutional.

A full list of candidates can be found at ncsbe.gov.