The 2026 Election

Voting in the mid-term general election

It is important to vote early.  If there is any problem with your registration, you can fix it at an early voting site.  (You can re-register, if necessary.)  And you can vote the same day as you fix your registration.  A registration problem on election day cannot be fixed, and your vote will probably not be counted in that case.  So vote early to avoid all of the known and unknown problems that might occur on election day.  

It is a good idea to check your registration status before going to vote.  It's easy.  Go to the state voter search website.  Enter at least your first and last names (required).  You may need to add additional information, like street name, your age, etc., to uniquely characterize yourself.  You will find a summary line with your name on it.  Make sure the "Status" column says "ACTIVE".  By clicking on your name you will get much more information about your voter registration.  By scrolling down you can also see your voting history in North Carolina. 

Choose any early voting site: Carolina Beach Town Hall, Pine Valley Library, MLK Community Center, NHC Board of Election Office at Gvernment Center, or Northeast Library

Early voting starts October 15 and ends October 31.  The hours are 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM except

Closed October 17 and 18 (Saturday and Sunday)

Open only 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on October 24 and October 25 (Saturday and Sunday)

Open only 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 31

The election day site for FP04 voters is Myrtle Grove Middle School on  Piner Road

Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd

The polls will be open 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM on election day

The election contests

There are many contests between candidates running for office at the federal, state, and county levels.  Please review the Democratic candidates at our county Democratic party website: https://www.newhanoverdems.org/our-candidates-2026.  You will find all the candidates for all of the offices, each with a website link.  Note that our FP04 ballots will have most of those candidates.  However, we are in NC House district 19 and NC Senate district 7, so you can ignore the races for House districts 18 and 20 as well as Senate district 8.  Those won't be on our ballot.

In addition, there is an important bond referendum on the ballot.  It will provide for essential upgrades to New Hanover County school buildings and infrastructure.  It will be paid back by a small increase in property tax amounting to $5 per year per $100,000 of property value.  For example, the cost is $20 more per year if your house is assessed at $400,000.  Debt service for this bond, if passed, will be paid from the NHC Endowment Fund.  

There are also three deplorable proposed amendments to the state constitution.  One would slash the state income tax, thereby slashing our schools, roads, bridges, and government services.  Another would impose a limit on county tax rate increases, irresponsibly impeding county efforts to improve schools, public safety, and other essential services.  The third proposed amendment would make it harder to vote by mail.  

Please, be sure to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot, including all county races and judicial races.  The local races for county commission and school board are sometimes decided by very few votes.  We have a chance to take control of those boards this year if Democrats win the open seats.  Make sure your family and friends also vote for Democrats all the way down the ballot.  

Here is the ballot that will be used by FP04 voters.