North Carolina Municipal Elections
North Carolina has more than 550 cities, towns, and villages — also known as municipalities. Municipalities are local governments, which make decisions about development, policing, trash service, local taxation, and other issues that affect voters’ daily lives.
Most municipalities in North Carolina conduct elections in odd-numbered years, including 2025. This is when voters choose who will represent them in local government offices, such as mayor and councilperson. Some municipalities may also conduct referenda on property tax or other matters.
In 2025, there are three municipal election dates in North Carolina:
- Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 (Partisan primary):
- Forsyth County: Rural Hall, Tobaccoville
- Lee County: Sanford
- Mecklenburg County: Charlotte
- Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (Second primary, primary election, or general election, depending on election method):
- Various municipalities
- Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 (General election or runoff, depending on election method):
- Various municipalities
2025 Municipal Elections Map
Click on any county on the map to find out about its municipal elections. If you would like to explore the information in another format, you can use the Local Voter Tool to search for specific details or download the data as a spreadsheet.
In-Person Early Voting Dates and Sites
September 2025 Municipal Elections
- The in-person early voting period for the September 2025 municipal elections is Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025 until 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
- The September 2025 municipal elections are Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
- Most municipalities do not have September municipal elections
October 2025 Municipal Elections
- The in-person early voting period for the October 2025 municipal elections is Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, until 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
- The October 2025 municipal elections are Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025
- Various municipalities will hold October municipal elections
Early voting dates for the November 2025 municipal elections are Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, until 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Early voting sites will be announced soon. The November 2025 municipal elections are Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
Find early voting sites and schedules in your county with the Early Voting Site Search. Locations and voting hours are also available here:
- Early Voting Sites for the Sept. 9, 2025 Municipal Elections (PDF)
- Early Voting Sites for the Oct. 7, 2025 Municipal Elections (PDF)
Find more information about early voting at Vote Early in Person.
Note: Early voting is not permitted in some municipalities.
Voting in Municipal Elections
To be eligible to vote in a municipal election, the voter must live in that municipality for at least 30 days before Election Day. North Carolina residents who live outside the boundaries of a municipality, such as an unincorporated part of a county, are not eligible to vote in a municipal election.
With the Voter Search tool, registered voters can determine if they live in an area that conducts municipal elections by finding a municipality under “Your Jurisdictions.”
All registered and eligible voters will find their sample ballot(s) in the “Your Sample Ballot” section of their Voter Search profile as they become available.
The voter registration deadline is 25 days before Election Day. Find out how to register.
For information on how to vote in municipal elections, see the following pages:
- Vote By Mail (Note: Not all municipalities offer absentee-by-mail voting.)
- Vote Early in Person (Note: Not all municipalities offer in-person early voting.)
- Vote in Person on Election Day
For more information about municipal elections in your area, contact your county board of elections.