Overview
On this page, you will find details, including dates and deadlines, for the 2023 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 2023. 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 2023, there are three municipal election dates in North Carolina:
- Tuesday, Sept. 12 (Charlotte, Sanford, if necessary)
- Tuesday, Oct. 10 (various municipalities)
- Tuesday, Nov. 7 (various municipalities)
Lists of candidates who filed to run in 2023 elections in PDF and CSV formats are available at Candidate Lists.
Note: Beginning with the 2023 municipal elections, North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Learn more at Voter ID.
Early Voting Sites
One-stop, in-person early voting for the October 2023 municipal elections in various municipalities begins Thursday, Sept. 21, and ends Saturday, Oct. 7. Sites and voting hours are available at One-Stop Voting Sites for the Oct. 10, 2023 Election (PDF). Early voting sites and hours are also available at One-Stop Early Voting Site Search.
2023 Municipal Elections Map
In the 2023 Municipal Elections Map below, click on a county to see what election contests are on the ballot in 2023 and when the elections are taking place. Twelve counties have no upcoming elections in 2023. Mobile users may view a table version of the map below at Local Voter Tool.
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.
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.
2023 Municipal Elections
September, October, and November Municipal Elections
Please see the chart below for important 2023 election dates and deadlines.
2023 Municipal Election Dates and Deadlines
| Election Date or Deadline |
|---|
| Aug. 11, 2023: County Boards of Elections begin mailing absentee ballots for September partisan primaries to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request. |
| Aug. 18, 2023: Civilian voter registration deadline for September partisan primaries |
| Aug. 24, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting begins for September partisan primaries. |
| Sept. 5, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot request deadline for September partisan primaries (5 p.m.) |
| Sept. 8, 2023: County Boards of Elections begin mailing absentee ballots for October municipal elections to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request. |
| Sept. 9, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for September partisan primaries. |
| Sept. 12, 2023: Election Day in municipalities with September partisan primaries |
| Sept. 12, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot return deadline for September partisan primaries (5 p.m.) |
| Sept. 15, 2023: Civilian voter registration deadline for October municipal elections |
| Sept. 19, 2023: County canvass for September partisan primaries (11 a.m.) |
| Sept. 21, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting begins for October municipal elections. |
| Oct. 3, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot request deadline for October municipal elections (5 p.m.) |
| Oct. 6, 2023: County Boards of Elections begin mailing absentee ballots for November municipal elections to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request. |
| Oct. 7, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for October municipal elections. |
| Oct. 10, 2023: Election Day in municipalities with October elections |
| Oct. 10, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot return deadline for October municipal elections (5 p.m.) |
| Oct. 13, 2023: Civilian voter registration deadline for November municipal elections |
| Oct. 17, 2023: County canvass for October municipal elections (11 a.m.) |
| Oct. 19, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting begins for November municipal elections. |
| Oct. 31, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot request deadline for November municipal elections (5 p.m.) |
| Nov. 4, 2023: One-stop, in-person early voting ends for November municipal elections. |
| Nov. 7, 2023: Election Day in municipalities with November elections |
| Nov. 7, 2023: Civilian absentee ballot return deadline for November municipal elections (5 p.m.) |