Kernersville voters will still see the name of Alderman Joe Pinnix on next month’s local ballot, though a yet-to-be-named replacement will receive any votes cast for the recently deceased Republican incumbent.

According to a joint statement from Town Clerk Keith Hooker and Forsyth County GOP Chair Tim Flinchum, Pinnix’s name cannot legally be removed because the ballots were already produced before his death. State law requires that, in such cases, the deceased candidate’s political party selects a substitute who will receive those votes.

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Flinchum confirmed in a separate email to Scope News that the Forsyth County Republican Executive Committee will meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. to determine Pinnix’s replacement for the November 4 municipal election.

The meeting, he said, “is an internal Forsyth County Republican Executive Committee meeting and is not open to the general public.”

Only committee members who are also residents of the Town of Kernersville will be eligible to vote on the replacement. To qualify, the new candidate must be a registered Republican voter and legally eligible to hold municipal office in Kernersville.

“Alderman Pinnix’s name will still be on the ballot, and any votes cast for Alderman Pinnix will be counted as a vote for the replacement candidate,” Flinchum added.

Another source familiar with the process told Scope News that the committee’s decision will be communicated publicly following the meeting, likely through an official press release. Flinchum also confirmed that party officials plan to issue a statement announcing the replacement candidate after the vote.

Scope News will continue to follow this story and update readers once the replacement candidate has been selected.

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