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Even though Richfield Commissioner Terry Almond died last week after suffering an allergic reaction from a wasp sting, he is still on the ballot for the November election.

Since ballots were already mailed to voters prior to his death, his name will remain on the ballot throughout the duration of the election season, said Kimberly Blackwelder, director of elections for Stanly County.

So whether voters participate in mail-in voting or physically go to the polls, Almond’s name will be on the ballot. He is one of five Richfield candidates running for three spots.

To the best of her knowledge, Blackwelder doesn’t recall another case in the county where a candidate running for office has died in the middle of the election season.

According to state law, if Almond, who has served as a commissioner for around 30 years, were to receive enough votes to get reelected, the board of elections would then declare the office vacant. It would then be up to the town commissioners to appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

Richfield Town Administrator Carolyn Capps said that town officials have already discussed the possibility that Almond could be one of the three candidates elected. If that happened, she said the commissioners would get together during the next board meeting after the election to appoint another person to serve the four years of Almond’s term.