Cabarrus County voters face an Oct. 9 deadline to register for the Nov. 3 general election. The ballot carries $400 million in bond questions, contested races for county commissioner and school board, and three proposed state constitutional amendments.

Registration closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, according to the Cabarrus County Board of Elections. Residents can register online through the NC DMV website or by mailing a completed application to the Board of Elections at 369 Church St. N, Concord. The office number is (704) 920-2860.

Voters who miss the deadline can use same-day registration during the early voting period, Oct. 15–31, but must show proof of current address.

What's on the ballot

County commissioner: Three seats are up for four-year terms. Republican nominees are James N. Bailey, Kristel Swayze and Ian Patrick. Democrats Phil Henry and Ingrid Nurse are also running, along with Libertarian Thomas Hill.

Sheriff: Republican Van Shaw is running unopposed, according to the county's candidate filing list.

Board of Education: Three Cabarrus County Schools board seats are on the ballot. Democrats Pam Escobar, an incumbent, Courtney Steinberg and Mishell Williams of Harrisburg face Republicans William L. Barbee, Bubba Hartsell and Robert Kirk.

State legislature: Voters will also pick representatives in NC Senate District 34, where Democrat April Cook faces Republican Kevin Crutchfield, and in NC House Districts 73, 82 and 83.

Bond referenda

Two separate bond questions will appear on the ballot. The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners adopted both bond orders on July 21.

The first asks voters to approve up to $340 million in school bonds for constructing, renovating and equipping school buildings. The estimated total cost over the life of the bonds is $530.8 million, including $190.8 million in interest. That would raise property taxes by an estimated $42.50 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value.

The second asks for up to $60 million for Rowan-Cabarrus Community College facilities. The estimated total cost is $93.7 million, including $33.7 million in interest. The estimated tax increase: $7.50 per year per $100,000 of assessed value.

Together, the two bonds address part of more than $1 billion in capital needs identified by the county's public school systems over the next decade, according to Inform Cabarrus.

Constitutional amendments

Three statewide amendments, placed on the ballot by Republican state lawmakers, also go before voters. Each requires a simple majority, according to the NC State Board of Elections.

The first would require all voters, including those voting by mail, to present photo identification. The second would lower the constitutional cap on the state income tax rate from 7% to 3.5%. North Carolina's current rate is 3.99% and is already scheduled under existing law to fall to 3.49% in 2027 and 2.99% by 2033, as Kiss 95.1 reported. The third would direct the legislature to limit how much local governments can increase property tax levies.

Gov. Josh Stein has opposed the income tax cap. "It will not put any more money in anyone's pockets," Stein said, according to WBTV's Sept. 25 report. He called the measure a way to "insulate the very wealthy from ever having an increase in their income tax."

How to vote early

Early voting runs Oct. 15–31 at four sites. Voters may use any location during early voting but must vote at their assigned precinct on Election Day.

  • Cabarrus EMS HQ Station 9, 793 Cabarrus Ave. W., Concord
  • Afton Ridge Active Living Center and Library, 6905 Glen Afton Blvd., Kannapolis
  • Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC Hwy 49, Concord
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College at NC Research Campus, 399 Biotechnology Ln., Kannapolis

Weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except the final Saturday, Oct. 31, when early voting ends at 3 p.m.

Absentee ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. North Carolina voters are asked to show photo ID at the polls. Those without acceptable identification can fill out an ID Exception Form and still vote. Free voter photo ID cards are available at the Board of Elections office.

Sample ballots, registration status and polling locations are available at the Cabarrus County elections page. Election Day polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.