Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in the 100 largest cities in America by population and the largest counties that overlap those cities. This encompasses all city, county, judicial, school district, and special district offices appearing on the ballot within those cities. Ballotpedia also covers mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in all state capitals.
Click the links in the table below for information about the cities in Ballotpedia's coverage scope and the county governments that overlap those cities:
According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 100 counties, 552 cities, towns, and villages, and 313 special districts.[1]
Click the links below for information about the elections held in each municipality. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of municipalities that held elections each year in this state; click here to learn more about Ballotpedia's local government coverage scope.
Durham County, North Carolina - Register of deeds, board of commissioners, soil and water conservation district, district court judges, and superior court judges
Forsyth County, North Carolina - Register of deeds, board of commissioners, soil and water conservation district, districts court judges, and superior court judges
Guilford County, North Carolina - Register of deeds, board of commissioners, soil and water conservation district, districts court judges, and superior court judges
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - Register of deeds, board of commissioners, soil and water conservation district, and district court judges
Wake County, North Carolina - Register of deeds, board of commissioners, soil and water conservation district, districts court judges, and superior court judges
Durham County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Forsyth County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Guilford County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judges
Wake County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Durham County, North Carolina - County commissioners, register of deeds, soil and water conservation district supervisor, judicial offices
Forsyth County, North Carolina - County commissioners, clerk of superior court (special election), judicial offices, register of deeds, soil and water conservation district supervisor
Guilford County, North Carolina - County commissioners, register of deeds, judicial offices, soil and water conservation district supervisor
During the 2019 election cycle, Ballotpedia temporarily expanded its coverage of North Carolina in order to provide voters with a comprehensive statewide sample ballot. This coverage included North Carolina elections spanning 503 cities, towns, and villages, nine school districts, and 17 special districts. No North Carolina counties held elections in 2019. Click here for more information about North Carolina's local elections.
Durham County, North Carolina - District attorney, county sheriff, clerk of court, special district board members, and local judgeships
Forsyth County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, county sheriff, district attorney, special district board members, and local judgeships
Guilford County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, and special district board members
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, special district board members, and local judgeships
Wake County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, special district board members, and local judgeships
State law does not grant ordinance initiative power to all cities. However, the North Carolina General Assembly has granted initiative power to certain cities, such as Raleigh and Greensboro, through special acts. In any city where an initiative has been made available, NC Gen. Stat. Section 159-17 states, "The adoption and amendment of the budget ordinance or any project ordinance and the levy of taxes in the budget ordinance are not subject to the provisions of any city charter or local act concerning initiative or referendum."[2][3][4]