Polls closed in Charlotte’s Democratic primaries at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after a day of slow turnout at polling places.
Democrats and unaffiliated voters will choose candidates for mayor and the top four candidates in a crowded field for four at-large seats on the city council.
Each member of 12-seat Charlotte City Council is up for election this fall, but District 1’s Dante Anderson and District 7’s Ed Driggs are running unopposed.
Three seats on the council, Districts 2, 4 and 5, only have Democrats running and will be decided in the primary.
Turnout has been low during early voting. Since early voting began Aug. 24, 8,467 people have cast ballots, according to data from the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
In the mayoral primary, Democrat Lucille Puckett will challenge incumbent Vi Lyles. It’s a rematch from the last mayoral race when Lyles beat Puckett by a wide margin.
Lyles is running for a fourth term leading North Carolina's largest city.
The winner of the mayoral primary will go up against Republican Misun Kim and Libertarian Rob Yates in the General Election Nov. 7.
In the race for Charlotte’s four at-large seats on city council, seven Democrats are running for the nomination. Voters will choose their four top candidates.
- Dimple Ajmera (incumbent)
- Ben Copeland
- Charlene Henderson El
- Victoria Watlington
- James (Smuggie) Mitchell, Jr. (incumbent)
- John X. Henny
- LaWana Slack-Mayfield (incumbent)
Incumbent council member and Mayor Pro-Tem Braxton Winston is not running for reelection.
Libertarian Steven DiFiore will challenge the Democrats in the General Election for city council at-large.
Here are the candidates for the other contested primaries in Charlotte:
District 2
- Malcolm Graham (incumbent)
- Gary Linn Young II
District 3
- Tiawana Deling Brown
- Melinda Lilly
- Warren F. Turner
District 4
- Renee Perkins Johnson (incumbent)
- Wil Russell
- Olivia Scott
District 5
- Marjorie Molina (incumbent)
- Vinroy Reid
- Curtis M. Hayes, Jr.
Polling places across the city will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Anyone in line at 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Voting will be open to Democrats and unaffiliated voters to choose their nominees for the General Election.
Queen City voters can get a sample ballot and find their polling place here.
People will be required to show photo ID to cast a ballot.
The General Election will be on Nov. 7.
The 2023 local elections are the first to require voters to show photo ID with the new law.
The address on the ID does not have to match the voter’s registration records.
Kristin Mavromatis, with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, said most voters should not need to worry about the new requirement.
“The easiest thing is that, if you have a driver’s license or state ID from DMV, you’re already good to go. Just bring your driver’s license or your North Carolina state ID. Show that, and you will have no issues,” Mavromatis said.
Voters can also use other photo ID cards, including passports, military IDs and approved student or employee IDs. The State Board of Elections has a full list of approved IDs.
For those without a photo ID, people can get one for free from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. County election boards will also provide free photo IDs to people who need them to vote, and require less paperwork than the DMV.
There are also exceptions for people who cannot show ID, including lack of transportation, disability or illness, not having the documents needed to get an ID, or for a lost or stolen ID.
Voters who ask for exceptions will have to cast a provisional ballot, which must be reviewed by the county Board of Elections. Voters can also bring their ID to the county elections office after they cast their ballot, as long as it’s before the county canvas date.