Many of the biggest elections in the Triangle and Sandhills won’t be until next year. But there are still plenty of local races on ballots across the region for the Nov. 2 election.
Some elections planned for this year have been postponed to next year because of redistricting. Every 10 years, towns and cities that elect local leaders by district have to redraw their maps after the Census Bureau releases new population numbers. But the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the count and the numbers came out much later than expected.
The elections in Raleigh, Cary, Fayetteville, Rocky Mount and Smithfield have been delayed. The General Assembly earlier this year voted to permanently move the Raleigh city council and mayoral elections to even years.
Statewide, there are more than 930 local elections scheduled for Nov. 2, many with early voting. More than 200 have been postponed to 2022.
Early voting for local races runs until Oct. 30.
There are dozens of mayoral races on the ballot on Nov. 2 for smaller cities and towns around the region, including Chapel Hill, Burlington, Pittsboro, Hope Mills and others.
In Durham, Mayor Steve Schewel opted not to run again this year. The city had an October primary for the mayoral race, which left two candidates. One of those candidates, council member Javiera Caballero has since dropped out, leaving retired judge Elaine O'Neal as the sole candidate for mayor of Durham on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Here are the elections on the ballot this year for North Carolina’s Triangle and Sandhills counties and information on how to vote in each county:
Wake
In Wake County, the city council and mayoral races in Raleigh and Cary have been delayed to next year. But elections in most of the other cities and towns in the county are going ahead, including in Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Fuquay-Varina, Apex, Wake Forest and Zebulon.
All Wake County elections have early voting available. For more details on voting, see the Wake County Board of Elections.
Durham
Durham County voters already went to the polls for a primary in October. One of the top two mayoral candidates has dropped out, leaving retired judge Elaine O'Neal as the de facto next mayor of Durham. There are still City Council seats contested in the Nov. 2 election. There are also elections in Morrisville, which straddles Wake and Durham counties.
Early voting is available in Durham County. Get more information on voting from the Durham County Board of Elections.
Orange
In Orange County, there are elections for mayor and town councils in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough on Nov. 2. Early voting is available for all elections in the county.
For more details on voting, see the Orange County Board of Elections.
Johnston
Elections for Smithfield mayor and council members have been postponed until next year, but nine other towns in Johnston County do have elections Nov. 2. Those include Clayton, Benson, Kenly and Four Oaks. There is early voting for all Johnston County elections.
Get more details on voting from the Johnston County Board of Elections.
Cumberland
The contests for mayor and council seats in Fayetteville have been delayed a year because of redistricting, but other towns in Cumberland County will still hold elections on Nov. 2. Eastover, Falcon, Hope Mills and other towns will have elections for mayor and commissioners.
There is early voting for all elections in the county. For more details on voting, see the Cumberland County Board of Elections.
Alamance
Voters in Burlington, Elon, Graham and other towns will be going to the polls for mayoral and council or Aldermen elections Nov. 2. The county does have early voting available at the County Office Annex in Graham.
Get more details on voting from the Alamance County Board of Elections.
Chatham
In Chatham County, elections for Siler City mayor and town commissioners have been delayed until 2022. Pittsboro and Goldston still have elections for mayor and commission members, plus one Goldston Gulf Sanitary District Board Member seat, up on Nov. 2.
Early voting is available at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 US Hwy 64 West, Pittsboro. For more details on voting, see the Chatham County Board of Elections.
Nash
In Nash County, Rocky Mount City Council elections have been postponed until next year. There are still elections for mayor or council members in Nashville, Red Oak and other towns.
Some elections in Nash County have early voting, except in Castalia, Dortches, Momeyer and Whitakers.
For more information on voting, see the Nash County Board of Elections.
Wayne
Wayne County has 11 elections set for Nov. 2, including mayors for Pikeville and Seven Springs. Elections for mayor and town commissioner seats in Mount Olive have been delayed until 2022.
Early voting is available at the Wayne County Public Library in Goldsboro.
Get more information on voting at the Wayne County Board of Elections.
Wilson
Elections for four city council seats in the City of Wilson have been postponed until next year but other mayoral and town council elections will be on Nov. 2. Early voting is available at the Board of Elections office at 112 Douglas Street in Wilson.
Get more information about voting at the Wilson County Board of Elections.
Robeson
In Robeson County, the council elections in Lumberton and St. Pauls have been rescheduled for 2022, but there are still 20 other town elections set for Nov. 2. Early voting is available for all races except the Marietta mayor and council elections.
For more details on voting, see the Robeson County Board of Elections.
Harnett
Elections for Erwin commission seats have been delayed, but Harnett County voters are still going to the polls in Angier, Coats and Lillington. Early voting is available in Harnett County.
Get more information on voting from the Harnett County Board of Elections.