Voter Guide
North Carolina Elections, 2025
Your Community, Your Vote:
A Quick Guide to NC Local Elections in 2025
Civic participation is kind of our thing. And yes, we know it’s easy (and sometimes overwhelming) to get caught up in national politics.
One of the ways to bring things back into focus is to engage at the local level. So, let’s take a few collective deep breaths and consider the ins and outs of electing local representation. To get things started, we've put together a simple, actionable guide to help prepare for the 2025 local elections in the State of North Carolina.
Key Takeaways:
Check Voter Registration: Have you moved recently, or changed your name since the last election cycle? Even if you’ve voted at your current address before, it’s a good idea to verify your registration. In North Carolina this can be done here. The standard deadline to register is 25 days before an election, but North Carolina offers a great backup option: same-day registration during the early voting period.
Ballot Research: Many local races, like those for school boards, are nonpartisan. This means researching beyond party affiliation. It means looking up your Sample Ballot, then reading up on candidate platforms and where they stand on issues that matter to you.
Local Issues = Local Impact: Think about zoning laws, public utilities, and local infrastructure— many of these are decided by local government. Participating in local elections has an outsized impact. Take action today and spread the word; together, we ensure local government reflects the needs of all residents.
Key 2025 Election Dates in North Carolina
Tuesday, September 9: Partisan primaries for Charlotte, Sanford, and municipalities in Forsyth, Guilford, Lee, and Madison counties. Early voting for these elections runs from Thursday, August 21, to Saturday, September 6.
Tuesday, October 7: Second primary, primary, or general elections in various municipalities.
Tuesday, November 4: General election or runoff in various municipalities.
All this information is available via the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, as well as on local election board websites.
Beyond these key dates, it's important to remember the broader context of these elections. Town, city, and county governments—including mayors, city councils, county commissioners, and more —make crucial decisions that directly affect sustainability, growth, and community well-being. This includes managing city budgets, setting local tax rates, and deciding on zoning laws, as well as directing funds for vital services like affordable housing, public utilities, and workforce development. By engaging in local elections and civics in general, residents can directly influence policies impacting their neighborhoods.
While voter turnout for national elections in North Carolina typically hovers around 50-60%, participation in municipal elections is often significantly lower, sometimes dipping below 20%.
This stark difference means that your single vote carries disproportionate weight in local races. In elections decided by just a few hundred votes, every ballot has a much greater potential to sway the outcome and directly influence modern policies and leadership.
Please Note: The information presented here isn’t exhaustive. Always check with local boards of elections for the most accurate and specific information for your community.
Let’s Get Local
Visit Vote.meckNC.gov for more.
The primary elections on September 9th are a critical step in determining the future leadership of Charlotte's City Council. With the city's election cycle occurring in odd-numbered years, these primaries often decide who will ultimately take office. For instance, in some districts, such as Districts 1, 4, and 5, the primary winners will face no opposition in the November general election, effectively securing their seats on the council.
This makes the September 9th primary the only opportunity for voters to weigh in on who represents them in those races.
The council consists of 11 members—four elected at-large by a city-wide vote and seven elected from specific districts. Their decisions on policies, budgets, and local ordinances directly impact residents' daily lives, making every vote in the primary particularly important.
Ready to vote? Early voting is happening now in the City of Charlotte. But heads up: there's no early voting on Sundays anymore, and the whole early voting period might be shorter than you remember.
Plus, you’ll need a photo ID to vote in person. These changes can make it tricky to cast your ballot, so let's get ready!
Here’s your action plan:
Check your status: Look up your voter registration and polling places on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. Find early voting dates on your local Board of Elections website.
Make a plan: Talk with friends, family, and neighbors. Decide when and how you’ll vote (Need to request a mail-in ballot? Will you vote early?). Share information and make sure everyone knows what's required to vote in 2025.
Share Resources: Resources like this Voter Toolkit can help you and your community make a plan to vote. Visit https://vote.mecknc.gov/ if you’re in Charlotte, North Carolina. They've got everything you need to be prepared.
Your vote is your voice, so let’s make it count. Share this toolkit far and wide and let’s make sure every community can grow with dignity. See you at the polls.
Speaking of checking local Boards of Election, here’s a look at the Early Voting calendar for Charlotte Mecklenburg, North Carolina’s September 9th Primary Elections.
Using this calendar you can find a voting site, double-check the hours it’s open, grab a friend and make a plan to vote together.
Don’t forget you’ll need to bring ID to the polls to vote. Learn more about North Carolina’s relatively new Voter ID requirements here.
