Granite Falls, North Carolina Public Records

The Granite Falls Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the town, with its headquarters located at 1415 Main Street, Granite Falls, NC 28630. The department's website provides information on public safety initiatives, crime reports, and community engagement programs.

Granite Falls voters are served by the Caldwell County Board of Elections, located at 1903 Hickory Boulevard SE, Lenoir, NC 28645 (phone: 828-757-1305, website: www.caldwellcountync.org/elections). The office is responsible for voter registration, maintaining voter rolls, conducting elections, processing absentee ballots, and certifying election results for all municipal, county, state, and federal elections in Caldwell County. North Carolina offers online voter registration through the State Board of Elections website at www.ncsbe.gov/registering. Eligible citizens who are at least 18 years old by the next general election, U.S. citizens, residents of North Carolina and the county for at least 30 days prior to the election, and not serving a felony sentence can register to vote. The deadline to register or update registration is 25 days before an election. North Carolina accepts same-day registration during the early voting period, allowing eligible citizens to register and vote simultaneously at early voting sites. Acceptable forms of identification include a North Carolina driver's license, non-operator ID, passport, military ID, tribal enrollment card, or student ID from a North Carolina college with photo.

Granite Falls municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years to elect the Mayor and Town Council members. The next Granite Falls municipal election is scheduled for November 2025 for a two-year term, with filing for candidates typically opening in July 2025. Information about local candidates, ballot measures, and sample ballots can be obtained from the Caldwell County Board of Elections or the Town of Granite Falls Town Hall. Granite Falls residents can find their assigned polling place by using the Voter Search tool at www.ncsbe.gov/voting/find-your-polling-place, which requires entering name and date of birth or county and voter registration number. Caldwell County typically operates approximately 25 precincts across the county, with Granite Falls residents assigned to specific precincts based on their residential address. Early voting for all elections is offered at multiple locations in Caldwell County during the 17-day period before Election Day, including weekends, with extended hours providing convenient access.

North Carolina maintains extensive public election records. Voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and purchase for legitimate purposes through the County Board of Elections, though personal information like birth dates and Social Security numbers is redacted. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates must be filed with the State Board of Elections and are searchable online at www.ncsbe.gov/campaign-finance. Candidate filing information, precinct-level election results, and turnout statistics are published on the State Board of Elections website following each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, Caldwell County reported approximately 62% voter turnout among registered voters, with roughly 35,000 ballots cast out of approximately 56,000 registered voters, reflecting strong participation consistent with presidential election cycles.

The November 3, 2026 general election will be a critical midterm election for Granite Falls and Caldwell County voters. North Carolina voters will decide one U.S. Senate seat (Class II, currently held by Thom Tillis, whose term expires January 2027), all of North Carolina's 14 U.S. House seats (Granite Falls is in the 10th Congressional District), and numerous state and local offices. State-level races will include all 120 seats in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 25 of the 50 seats in the North Carolina State Senate (Granite Falls is in Senate District 46 and House District 86). Caldwell County offices up for election in 2026 include County Commissioners, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, and other county offices depending on term schedules. Judicial races for District Court and Superior Court judges serving Caldwell County will also appear on the ballot. North Carolina does not have gubernatorial elections in 2026 (the next Governor's race is 2028), but the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Council of State positions will be contested. Voters should verify their registration status and polling location well in advance of the election through the State Board of Elections website.

North Carolina offers absentee voting by mail for voters who meet certain criteria or choose to vote by mail. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without providing an excuse. Absentee ballot request forms are available from the Caldwell County Board of Elections office, by calling 828-757-1305, or by downloading the form from www.ncsbe.gov. Completed request forms must be submitted to the County Board of Elections. Civilian absentee ballot requests for the November 2026 election must be received by 5:00 PM on October 27, 2026 (one week before Election Day). Completed absentee ballots must be returned by mail and postmarked by Election Day and received by the Board of Elections within three days after the election, or delivered in person to the Board of Elections office by 7:30 PM on Election Day. North Carolina requires one witness signature on the absentee ballot return envelope. Military and overseas voters have additional time and options under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).