Elections set for Nov. 4

Voters across northeastern North Carolina will have the opportunity to shape their local governments beginning this Thursday, October 16, when in-person early voting begins for the November 2025 municipal elections.

The early voting period runs through 3 p.m. Saturday, November 1, giving residents in municipalities across the region nearly three weeks to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 4.

Key Dates

• Early Voting Begins: Thursday, October 16
• Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Tuesday, October 21 at 5 p.m.
• Early Voting Ends: Saturday, November 1 at 3 p.m.
• Election Day: Tuesday, November 4

For information about municipal elections, sample ballots, and polling locations, visit ncsbe.gov or contact your local county board of elections.

“Municipal elections represent another opportunity for voters to make their voices heard in choosing their government leaders,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the N.C. State Board of Elections, in a statement. “Municipal elections are a huge undertaking across North Carolina. We appreciate the hard work of our county officials and poll workers in administering these important elections.”

Local Races Drawing Voter Interest

Several competitive races are shaping up across the region’s towns and cities:

Edenton

Edenton voters will decide two town council races. In the At-Large race, Regina Bond faces incumbent Craig Miller. In the 3rd Ward, incumbent Aaron D. Coston is being challenged by Haywood L. Coston.

Plymouth

Plymouth features one of the region’s most contested ballots, with three candidates vying for mayor and multiple multi-seat council races. Crystal Davis, Brian Roth, and Mark Sexton are competing for the mayor’s office.

Town Council races are organized by ward, with voters in each ward selecting two representatives. Ward 1 features five candidates: Cornise Harvey Debrew, Gale O’Neil, Donsenia Teel, John Tharpe, and Micah Weathersbee. Ward 2 voters will choose between Karol Sanders Freeman, Terri Pitt, Jerry Rhodes, and Danny Wobbleton. In Ward 3, Steven Brown, Mary Ann Byers, John Shelton, Tristan Spencer, and Kim Williams are seeking the two available seats.

Columbia

Columbia residents face a choice for mayor between Helen Teresa Ayers and Sandra S. Owens. Four candidates are running for three aldermen positions: W. Hal Fleming, Nancy Jean Lambert, Lynda Mastronardo, and Bryan Owens.

Windsor

Windsor Mayor Lewis Hoggard is running unopposed, but the commissioner race offers voters a choice. William Bessey, Lewis E. Dameron, Jon Powell, and Randy K. Whitaker are competing for two commissioner seats.

Hertford

In Hertford, four candidates are seeking two town commissioner positions: Andrew Almodova, Connie T. Brothers, Evan Copeland, and Gracie Felton.

Winfall

Winfall voters will select two town commissioners from a field of four candidates: Debera B. Long, Kimberly Parker, Ronald Smirlock, and Robert P. Valentine.

Roper

Roper Mayor Denise Blount is running unopposed, while two town council seats are contested by Sandra Faye Arnold and Shawanna McCray.

Gatesville

Gatesville Mayor G. Douglas Lilley faces no opposition. Three town council seats are being sought by Kaye H. Barker, Charles H. Carter III, and Wade W. Hobbs, with all three running unopposed.

Statewide Context

Across North Carolina, 447 cities, towns, and villages in 88 counties are conducting elections this November. Of these, 380 municipalities will offer early voting, while 67 have chosen not to use early or absentee voting. In those municipalities, voters may cast ballots only on Election Day.

Voters in many municipalities will select mayors and members of their local governing bodies. In some areas, voters will choose water and sewer or sanitary district commissioners or board of education members. Several towns also have referenda on their ballots.

Statewide, 144 early voting sites will be open for the November elections.

Voter Eligibility and Registration

Voters must live and be registered to vote in a municipality to participate in its elections. Residents can verify their eligibility by visiting the State Board’s Voter Search tool at ncsbe.gov and checking for a sample ballot. If no sample ballot is attached to their voter record, they are not eligible to vote in November contests.

During the early voting period, eligible individuals who are not registered to vote may register and vote at the same time at an early voting site in their county.

Early voting sites and schedules are available at the State Board of Elections’ Early Voting Site Search and at earlyvoting.ncsbe.gov.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting has already begun in municipalities that allow it. Eligible, registered voters may request a ballot online through the NC Absentee Ballot Portal or on paper using the 2025 NC Absentee Ballot Request Form through 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 21.

New Registration Repair Project

Earlier this year, the State Board launched the Registration Repair Project, a comprehensive effort to collect driver’s license numbers or last four digits of Social Security numbers from registered voters who lack this information in the voter registration database.

Voters whose records lack required identification information and who show up to vote will cast a provisional ballot and fill out a form with their N.C. driver’s license/DMV ID number or last four digits of their Social Security number. County boards of elections will meet after Election Day to determine whether provisional ballots can be counted.

Voters can check if they are on the Registration Repair list at the Registration Repair Search Tool at ncsbe.gov. Details on how to repair a registration are available on the State Board’s website.