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Saturday, October 10, 2026
Charlotte, NC|Independent Local News
The Charlotte Mercury

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Elections

Type your address or tap the map and see what is on your ballot on Tuesday, November 3. Then everything we have reported, newest first.

Oct 9
Registration deadline, 5 p.m.Closed. Same-day registration still works at early voting.
Oct 15–31
Early voting, 22 county sitesWeekdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sundays 1 to 5 p.m.
Oct 20
Mail ballot request deadline, 5 p.m.Return it to the county office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Nov 3
Election Day, polls 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Early voting sites and hours · Your sample ballot · Dates from the Mecklenburg and N.C. boards of elections.

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The rest of the ballot, the same for every voter in Mecklenburg County

Federal

U.S. Senate

Open seat; Thom Tillis is retiring.

County

District Attorney

  • Spencer MerriweatherDem

County Commission, At-LargeVote for 3

Clerk of Superior Court

  • Elisa Chinn GaryDem

Sheriff

  • Garry L. McFaddenDem

Three questions on the state constitution

Property tax levy limit

Would require limits on how much local governments can raise property taxes. The county board chair has told staff to explore suing the state over it.

Photo ID for all voters

Would extend the photo ID requirement to every voter, not only those voting in person.

Income tax cap of 3.5%

Would bar the state from raising its income tax rate above 3.5 percent.

City of Charlotte voters also decide

Charlotte housing bond, $125 million

Charlotte voters decide a $125 million housing bond. City staff have laid out how the money would be split, with goals for homes near transit and in higher-opportunity neighborhoods.

Judges

N.C. Supreme Court, Associate Justice, Seat 1

  • Anita EarlsDem
  • Sarah StevensRep

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 1

  • Michael C. ByrneRep
  • John S. ArrowoodDem

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 2

  • George Cooper BellRep
  • Tobias (Toby) HampsonDem

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 3

  • Craig CollinsRep
  • Christine Marie WalczykDem

Nonpartisan

Soil and Water Conservation District SupervisorVote for 2

Superior Court, District 26 · 3 seats

District Court, District 26 · 10 seats

  • Seat 13Roderick G. DavisDem
  • Seat 14Alyssa M. LevineDem
  • Seat 15Jennifer L. FleetDem
  • Seat 16Matt NewtonDem
  • Seat 17Paige McTheniaDem
  • Seat 18Habekah CannonDem
  • Seat 19Samantha C. MobleyDem
  • Seat 20Karen D. McCallumDem
  • Seat 21Rhonda L. Patterson-WrightenDem
  • Seat 6 (unexpired term)Kimberly Y. BestDem

Candidates and parties from the N.C. State Board of Elections candidate file, read Friday, October 9, 2026. The state notes its lists can still change; this page is refreshed from the file before early voting opens and again before Election Day. District lines are Mecklenburg County’s own map data.

The record

  1. Charlotte's Housing Bond Plan Now Says Where Homes Should Go

    Before voters decide on a $125 million housing bond in November, city staff laid out how the money would be split, with new goals for homes near transit and in higher-opportunity neighborhoods. Council plans to adopt the plan in October.

    On the ballot

  2. A SNAP Penalty Could Cost Mecklenburg $30 Million to $42 Million a Year. A November Ballot Question Could Cap How It Pays.

    A federal penalty tied to North Carolina's food-assistance error rate could take $30 million to $42 million a year out of Mecklenburg County's budget, and the county will owe a share of it even if its own error rate stays under the federal limit. The county's budget director called it a shift of federal costs onto local residents, from a program funded by income tax onto a county whose revenue levers are "really limited to property tax." Whether the General Assembly must cap property tax is the question on the November 3 ballot.

    On the ballot

  3. Raleigh's Property Tax Squeeze Could Cap Charlotte's Future

    The House Property Tax Study Commission meets April 15 with four draft bills, including a levy limit that would cap Mecklenburg County tax increases at roughly 1.5 cents. At a Joint Legislative Breakfast, officials from the BOCC, City Council, and CMS Board presented unified opposition.

    On the ballot

  4. Mecklenburg County Chair Tells Staff to Explore Litigation Against State Over Property Tax Legislation

    Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Mark Jerrell directed staff to explore litigation options against the state of North Carolina after a briefing on four property tax bills advancing through the General Assembly. The board's sharpest target: a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual property tax increases, threatening the county's ability to fund $484 million in state-mandated costs.

    On the ballot

  5. McFadden's Closest Rival Just Became His Chief Deputy. Two Others Tried the Job and Quit Publicly.

    Ricky Robbins, the CMPD sergeant who came within 2,717 votes of unseating Garry McFadden in the March primary, starts as Mecklenburg County's chief deputy on April 1. The last two people who held the position resigned with public letters accusing McFadden of running the office like a "third-world dictatorship" and creating a "toxic" work environment.

    On the ballot

  6. Berger Requests Recount in Razor-Thin North Carolina Primary, Opening Door to Power Shift in Raleigh

    A 23-vote margin in the NC Senate District 26 Republican primary has triggered a recount that could reshape leadership in Raleigh and ripple into Charlotte policy.

  7. Charlotte Democratic Primary 2026: Stein Endorses Challenger to Incumbent Cunningham in High-Stakes House Race

    Governor endorses challenger to 7-term Charlotte incumbent who votes with GOP 84% of time. March 3 primary will decide whether Democrats can restore veto power.

  8. North Carolina Opens 2026 Election Filing: What It Means for Charlotte

    North Carolina's 2026 election cycle officially began at noon on Dec. 1 as candidate filing opened statewide. Here's what Charlotte residents should know before the Dec. 19 deadline.

  9. Mecklenburg County 2025 Election Results: Transit Tax Passes, Democrats Sweep Charlotte City Council and School Board

    Mecklenburg County voters approved a landmark transit tax, re‑elected Mayor Vi Lyles, and delivered a clean sweep for Democrats on the council and school board in Charlotte's 2025 municipal election.

  10. Charlotte's $19B Transit Tax Vote: Federal Shutdown and NC Redistricting Set the Stakes

    Federal shutdown hits day 34 as Charlotte votes on $19B transit tax. How Washington chaos, Raleigh redistricting, and local politics collide three weeks before Election Day.

  11. CMS Candidate Forum: Districts 1–6 discuss gains, funding, communications and policy at WFAE event

    WFAE and the League of Women Voters hosted a CMS board forum. Candidates for Districts 1–6 outlined views on achievement, funding, communications, immigration policy, teacher retention, and district needs.

  12. Early Voting in Mecklenburg: Sites, ID Rules, Transit Tax, and Races to Watch

    Early voting is open in Mecklenburg. What is on the ballot, how same-day registration works, what the transit tax funds, and how NC secures your vote, plus links to our 2025 race guides.

  13. Charlotte at the Ballot Box: When Crime Becomes Currency

    Three weeks before one of Charlotte's most consequential elections in a decade, a murder on the Blue Line became the story that wouldn't let go. Somewhere between Iryna Zarutska's death and the November 4 ballot, tragedy was transformed into campaign currency.

  14. Charlotte Voter Guide 2025: Federal Shutdown, Crime Debate, and November Ballot Breakdown

    Federal shutdown hits Day 12, Charlotte debates National Guard deployment, and November elections loom. Here's what voters need to know, and do, right now.

  15. Charlotte Mayor's Race at the Tuesday Forum: Housing, Transit Tax, and Community Safety Collide

    At the Tuesday Forum, Vi Lyles and Rob Yates split on transit tax, converged on community policing, and faced Charlotte's hardest fact: thousands of CMS students are without stable housing.

  16. This Week in Charlotte Politics (Sept 29–Oct 5): BOA, ADA Training, JCPC, BOCC, CRTPO, Ballots Begin

    Your week in Charlotte civics: BOA variances, ADA training, JCPC, BOCC intergov, CRTPO, ballots begin mailing, a civic summit, and a school board forum. Show up, speak up, vote smart.

  17. Parks or Pumps: Charlotte District 5 Pushes Back on Gas Station Near 27-Acre Park

    A four-pump fueling proposal near a 27.5-acre county park in east Charlotte faced staff opposition and a sharp rebuke from District 5's Marjorie Molina. The hearing closed with no vote, but the signals were clear.

  18. District 3 flips to Joi Mayo, District 5 likely recount, and a campaign reshaped by Iryna Zarutska killing

    Joi Mayo ousts Tiawana Brown in District 3, District 5 heads toward a recount, and safety on Charlotte Blue Line becomes a central test for November.

  19. District 5 Primary: Mazuera Arias Leads Molina by 33 Votes With Four Precincts Outstanding

    District 5 is a cliffhanger. With 26 of 30 precincts in, J.D. Mazuera Arias leads Marjorie Molina 2,712 to 2,679. Four precincts remain. Margin 33 votes, about 0.61 percent. Unofficial.

  20. Charlotte's Early Vote: 13,871 Ballots, Five Days, Big Consequences

    Mecklenburg logged 13,871 early and by-mail votes. Most arrived in five days and clustered at University City, SouthPark, and a few big branches. In primaries, that small surge sets the agenda.

  21. Charlotte's Primary Problem: When 1 in 8 Voters Decide

    In Mecklenburg, just 18.7% voted in the 2024 primary. Here's how a motivated 7% can set policy for 100%, and what that means for 'Poll Dance 2025.'

  22. The District 1 Decider: Pragmatist vs. Organizer

    A safely blue district, a decisive primary. Dante Anderson backs the mobility tax and corridor investments. Charlene Henderson pushes neighborhood-first growth and worker standards.

  23. Guide to Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidates 2025

    Charlotte's at-large races decide four citywide seats. Meet the field, see key dates, and track positions on the transit tax, housing, and stadium funding. Privacy-first, all receipts linked.

  24. Charlotte's 1% Transit Tax: What It Does, What It Costs, Who Runs It, and Where City Council Candidates Stand

    The 1% transit sales tax would fund roads, rail, and buses through a new regional authority with strict gates on the Red Line. Here's how it works, who controls it and where candidates stand.

  25. The Penny That Could Redraw Mecklenburg

    Charlotte's 1% transportation sales tax could raise $19B, fund roads and rail, dissolve the MTC, and put the Red Line first. What it means for you.

  26. Malcolm Graham, District 2: Record, Committees, Corridors, Transit, and 2025 Ballot

    Malcolm Graham chairs Jobs & Economic Development, represents Charlotte's Historic West End, and has a long record on transit, corridors, and high-profile votes. Here's what he's done and what's next.

  27. District 1 Rematch: Charlene Henderson vs. Danté Anderson in Charlotte's 2025 Democratic Primary

    District 1's 2025 rematch: Charlene Henderson challenges mayor pro tem Danté Anderson. Early voting Aug. 21–Sept. 6; primary Sept. 9. What splits them on labor, transit, and development.

  28. District 3's One-Vote Shock: What BPC's 46–45 Endorsement Means For Charlotte's Most Watched Primary

    A single vote gave the Black Political Caucus endorsement to Joi Mayo over incumbent Tiawana Brown in District 3. Here is what 46–45 means for a low-turnout primary that decides the seat.

  29. Charlotte's 2025 Republican City Council Candidates: Full Profiles and Policy Positions

    In Charlotte's 2025 elections, five Republican candidates, from seasoned council veterans to first-time challengers, aim to reshape city policy and politics.

  30. Charlotte Mayoral Challengers Bet on Lived Experience in 2025 Race

    Three challengers hope personal histories, spanning Marine Corps service, nonprofit leadership, and street-level advocacy, can unseat Charlotte's entrenched mayor in 2025.

  31. Charlotte Mayoral Candidates Present Diverging Plans for Housing, Transit, and Public Safety

    Charlotte mayoral contenders clash over housing, transit, and public safety, offering voters sharply different plans and political philosophies ahead of the 2025 primary.

  32. Charlotte 2025 City Council Candidate Guide | District-by-District Profiles & Election Details

    Explore Charlotte's 2025 City Council races. District-by-district profiles, records, priorities, and key election dates for Mecklenburg voters.

  33. This Week in NC Politics: Transit Referendum Hits Ballot, Stein Signs Stopgap Budget, School-Choice Veto Sparks Fight

    A hard look at the week: Mecklenburg's transit tax hits the ballot, the governor signs a stopgap budget and vetoes a school-choice tax credit, and local transparency fights simmer in Charlotte.

  34. Mecklenburg Approves November Vote on 1-Cent Transit Sales Tax Worth $25 Billion

    Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners; City of Charlotte; Mecklenburg Public Transportation Authority (proposed); Southern Coalition for Social Justice; Action NC; Charlotte Area Transit System

  35. Why Democrats Routinely Win Charlotte's At-Large Council Seats — And Republicans Don't

    Learn why Democrats routinely win Charlotte's at-large city council seats, and why Republicans face steep odds in citywide contests. Voting rules, turnout, and math, explained.

  36. 2025 Charlotte City Council At-Large Candidates: Full Field Breakdown

    Charlotte's 2025 at-large City Council race has 12 candidates, two parties, and one giant question: who has a citywide message that sticks?

  37. Political Events in Charlotte, NC July 27 - August 3, 2025

    From veto overrides to local council contests, Charlotte's political pulse quickened July 27–Aug 3. Here's what mattered and why.

  38. Charlotte Mayoral Primary 2025: Everything You Need to Know (and Why You Should Vote)

    Seven candidates want to run Charlotte. One already does. The rest are campaigning with policy, poetry, or PayPal. The real question: Will anyone show up to vote?

  39. Mecklenburg's One-Cent Transit Tax Heads to November Ballot—Here's What the Fine Print Really Says

    Mecklenburg commissioners advanced a 1-cent sales tax question despite word-smithing wars. Critics call it fuzzy math; supporters say state law ties their hands.

  40. Malcolm Graham's Corridor Crusade: Transit, West End Roots, and 2025 Election Stakes

    Malcolm Graham's West End roots, corridor crusade, and "no Plan B" transit gamble reveal how one council veteran shapes Charlotte's 2025 narrative, and your commute.

  41. Susie Wiles' Quiet Hammer: How Trump's Top Strategist Keeps Winning

    Susie Wiles builds coalitions in whispers and leaves rivals yelling at static. Here's why her "no-leak" discipline shapes 2025, and how Charlotte can steal a page.

  42. Charlotte politics shake‑up

    Five chaotic days shut a violent bar, cleared two town ballots, unleashed a Senate shake‑up, and let lawmakers spike your power bill, all before Charlotte finished its second latte.

  43. Tom Tillis Quits, Roy Cooper Eyes Senate, and Michael Watley Tests Trump's Grip on North Carolina

    Tillis exits, Cooper edges in, Watley rolls the Trump dice, and Raleigh fights over a budget nobody can see. Grab a seat, Poll Dance 2025 is warming up.

  44. Primaries Decide the Race: Charlotte's Twenty-Percent Problem

    Low-turnout primaries now decide most races. Why twenty percent of voters call the shots, and how Charlotte can push that number higher before Poll Dance 2025.

  45. Congressional Cuts Test Local Newsrooms

    Congress's $9 billion rollback hits public media coffers; Charlotte Mercury leans on community partners and readers for survival in an election year.

  46. Uptown Shootings Undercut CMPD's Crime Decline Claim

    CMPD touts a 25 % drop in violent crime, yet an Uptown shooting reminds residents that statistics don't stop bullets. We dig into the half-year numbers, the fear, and the money at stake.

  47. Charlotte's 2025 Ballot Is Final: Lyles Runs Again, Council Rifts Deepen

    Filing closed at noon. Lyles wants a fifth term, council bickers, transit tax looms. District 3 drama, District 6 reset, GOP hunts a comeback. Full roster, stakes, and a wink.

  48. Jennifer Roberts Exits, Terrie Donovan Joins: Inside Charlotte's 2025 Mayoral Shuffle

    Jennifer Roberts bows out, Mayor Vi Lyles files, and a late‑hour GOP realtor scrambles Charlotte's 2025 mayoral race, just as transit, crime, and council chaos crowd the ballot.

  49. Summer Nunn Steps Aside: District 6 School-Board Race Opens Ahead of Charlotte's 2025 Ballot

    Summer Nunn leaves the CMS board after one term, citing family, work, and "dysfunction." District 6 now looks for fresh candidates as November's ballot takes shape.

  50. Vi Lyles Seeks a Fifth Term as Charlotte Mayor, Facing Little Resistance and a Big Mobility Tax Question

    Vi Lyles files for a fifth mayoral term, faces scant opposition, and eyes a mobility sales‑tax legacy while City Council dysfunction simmers.

  51. Charlotte Planning Commission Advances Area Plans, Prepares First UDO Maintenance Amendment

    Charlotte's Planning Commission preps area plans for an August vote, eyes Opportunity Zone tweaks, and schedules biannual UDO maintenance, while every seat at the dais is finally full.

  52. Candidate Filing Opens for Charlotte's 2025 Elections: What to Know Before July 18

    Charlotte's 2025 campaign season opens July 7 as every City Council seat, and the mayor's gavel, go up for grabs. Filing runs only 12 days. Get in line or get left out.

  53. Bradley Tusk Explains How Mecklenburg's 13 Percent Primary Turnout Pushes Politics to the Edge

    Mecklenburg's March 2024 primary drew just 19 % of voters, about 13 % of residents, fueling the ideological edge that Bradley Tusk says is tearing national politics apart.