Wake County, NC — General Election

A U.S. Senator writes and votes on federal law, taxes, and spending, and confirms federal judges and executive appointees. The seat also shapes federal policy on health coverage, immigration, guns, energy, and the use of American force abroad. One of two senators representing all of North Carolina, for a six-year term.

A member of the U.S. House votes on federal taxes and spending, health care and immigration law, firearms and criminal justice statutes, and authorization of military action abroad. Representatives also oversee federal agencies and help constituents with federal problems. One of 435 votes, elected every two years.

The North Carolina Supreme Court is the state's highest court: seven justices elected statewide in partisan races to eight-year terms. It has the final word on the state constitution, which puts it at the center of disputes over redistricting, voting rules, school funding, and the balance of power between the governor and the legislature. It also hears death-penalty appeals and sets rules for every court in the state.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appeals court: fifteen judges elected statewide in partisan races to eight-year terms, hearing cases in panels of three. It decides most appeals from trial courts and state agencies, including criminal convictions, custody and family cases, business disputes, and challenges to state rules, and its rulings stand unless the Supreme Court takes the case.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appeals court: fifteen judges elected statewide in partisan races to eight-year terms, hearing cases in panels of three. It decides most appeals from trial courts and state agencies, including criminal convictions, custody and family cases, business disputes, and challenges to state rules, and its rulings stand unless the Supreme Court takes the case.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appeals court: fifteen judges elected statewide in partisan races to eight-year terms, hearing cases in panels of three. It decides most appeals from trial courts and state agencies, including criminal convictions, custody and family cases, business disputes, and challenges to state rules, and its rulings stand unless the Supreme Court takes the case.

A North Carolina state senator helps write the state budget and tax code and votes on laws covering public schools and vouchers, Medicaid, abortion, guns, policing, elections, and energy. With three-fifths majorities in both chambers, the General Assembly can override the governor's veto and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without the governor. One of 50 senators, elected every two years.

A North Carolina state representative helps write the state budget and tax code and votes on laws covering public schools and vouchers, Medicaid, abortion, guns, policing, elections, and energy. With three-fifths majorities in both chambers, the General Assembly can override the governor's veto and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without the governor. One of 120 House members, elected every two years.

A North Carolina state representative helps write the state budget and tax code and votes on laws covering public schools and vouchers, Medicaid, abortion, guns, policing, elections, and energy. With three-fifths majorities in both chambers, the General Assembly can override the governor's veto and put constitutional amendments on the ballot without the governor. One of 120 House members, elected every two years.

District Court judges hear misdemeanor and traffic cases, bond and probable-cause hearings in felony cases, civil cases up to $25,000, and most family matters: divorce, custody, child support, domestic-violence protective orders, and juvenile cases. Wake County's District Court is split into six electoral subdistricts, 10A through 10F, and only voters in 10E elect these seats. North Carolina elects district judges in partisan races to four-year terms.

District Court judges hear misdemeanor and traffic cases, bond and probable-cause hearings in felony cases, civil cases up to $25,000, and most family matters: divorce, custody, child support, domestic-violence protective orders, and juvenile cases. Wake County's District Court is split into six electoral subdistricts, 10A through 10F, and only voters in 10E elect these seats. North Carolina elects district judges in partisan races to four-year terms.

The District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 10, which is Wake County, prosecutes state criminal cases there, from traffic and misdemeanor charges to homicides. The DA decides what to charge, which cases to divert or dismiss, and whether to seek the death penalty, and directs a staff of assistant prosecutors. Elected in a partisan race to a four-year term.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners adopts the county budget and property tax rate and decides how much local money goes to the public schools, Wake Tech, the sheriff and jail, social services, public health, libraries, and parks. It also decides which bond referendums go before voters, including the school and community college bonds on this ballot. These two at-large seats are new, as the board grows from seven to nine members; voters across the county elect them in partisan races, and the top vote-getter serves four years and the runner-up two.

The Clerk of Superior Court keeps the records and money of the Wake County courts and also acts as a judge in estates and probate, guardianships, adoptions, foreclosures, and some land cases. The office runs case and jury records, collects court fees and fines, and supervises a large staff. Elected in a partisan race to a four-year term.

The Wake County Sheriff runs the county jail and courthouse security, serves warrants and court papers, issues concealed handgun permits, and patrols unincorporated areas. Within limits set by state law, the sheriff decides how the jail works with federal immigration authorities and sets enforcement priorities and jail programs. Elected in a partisan race to a four-year term.

The Wake County Board of Education governs the Wake County Public School System, the largest district in North Carolina. Its nine members hire the superintendent, adopt the budget request sent to county commissioners, set student assignment and school calendars, and approve policies on curriculum, library materials, discipline, and school safety. Members are elected by district in nonpartisan races.

Wake Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors sit on a five-member board, three elected and two appointed, that promotes conservation on farms and developed land: erosion and stormwater control, water quality, and farmland and open-space protection. The district works mainly through voluntary cost-share programs, technical help, and education rather than regulation or taxes. The seats are nonpartisan.

North Carolina's constitution has required photo identification from in-person voters since voters approved it in 2018, and state law already asks mail voters to send a copy of their ID or an exception form. This amendment would put the ID requirement for every voter, including mail voters, into the constitution. A vote for it means only another statewide vote could loosen the rule for mail voters; a vote against leaves that rule to the legislature.

The state constitution caps the income tax rate at 7 percent, a limit voters added in 2018. This amendment would lower the cap to 3.5 percent for personal and corporate income taxes starting in 2027, when the personal rate is already scheduled under current law to fall to 3.49 percent. It would not cut anyone's taxes by itself; it would keep a future legislature from raising the rate above 3.5 percent without another statewide vote.

Counties and cities set their own property tax rates each year. This amendment would require the legislature to pass laws limiting how much a local government's property tax levy can grow from year to year; the amendment itself sets no percentage, exceptions, or start date, leaving those to later legislation. The limit would constrain how counties and cities pay for schools, public safety, and other services that rely on the property tax.

This authorizes Wake County to borrow $680 million to build, renovate, expand, and equip public school buildings, repaid with property taxes. The ballot's required estimate puts the total cost at about $1.04 billion with interest at the highest rate of the last 20 years, and the tax increase at $4.10 a year per $100,000 of property value. If it fails, the county would need other funding or would delay the projects.

This authorizes Wake County to borrow $149.1 million to build, renovate, expand, and equip facilities for Wake Technical Community College, repaid with property taxes. The ballot's required estimate puts the total cost at about $229 million with interest at the highest rate of the last 20 years, and the tax increase at 90 cents a year per $100,000 of property value. If it fails, the projects would need other funding or be delayed.