Ivanhoe, North Carolina Public Records

North Carolina residents can register to vote online at www.ncsbe.gov/registering, by mail, or in person at the Board of Elections office or at the NC Division of Motor Vehicles when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, North Carolina and Sampson County residents, and at least 18 years old by the next general election. The registration deadline falls 25 days before any election. The state also offers same-day registration during early voting, allowing eligible residents to register and vote simultaneously at any early voting site in Sampson County. Acceptable forms of ID for in-person voting include North Carolina driver's license, passport, military ID, tribal enrollment card, student ID from a North Carolina university, or voter photo ID card issued by the Sampson County Board of elections. As an unincorporated community, the area does not hold municipal elections for mayor or town council. Instead, residents vote in county, state, and federal elections. Sampson County is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners elected countywide to staggered four-year terms. County elections include races for Sheriff, Register of Deeds, Board of Commissioners, Board of Education, and Clerk of Superior Court. Local voters can find their assigned polling place using the Voter Search tool at www.ncsbe.gov/registering/voter-lookup, which displays registration status, precinct, polling location, sample ballot, and elected representatives by entering name and date of birth or county and name. The county typically operates multiple early voting sites in the two weeks preceding each election, with locations announced by the Board of Elections. North Carolina's public records law makes certain election records publicly accessible. Voter registration lists are public records and can be purchased from the State Board of Elections, though personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and birthdates are redacted. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are searchable online at www.ncsbe.gov/campaign-finance. Candidate filing information, precinct-level election results, turnout statistics, and absentee ballot data are all publicly available through the State Board of Elections website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Sampson County reported approximately 53% voter turnout, with roughly 20,000 ballots cast out of approximately 38,000 registered voters. The county has historically leaned Republican in presidential and statewide races, though local races can be competitive. The November 3, 2026 general election will be a critical midterm election for North Carolina voters. U.S. Senate: one of North Carolina's two U.S. Senate seats is not up in 2026 (the seats are on different cycles, with elections in 2022/2028 and 2024/2030). North Carolina voters will not elect a U.S. Senator in 2026. Governor: North Carolina holds gubernatorial elections in presidential years (2024, 2028), so the governorship is not on the ballot in 2026. However, all 170 seats in the North Carolina General Assembly will be on the ballot in 2026, including all 50 State Senate seats and all 120 State House seats. Local residents fall within a state legislative district represented in both chambers, and these races will be contested. At the Sampson County level, voters may elect county commissioners, sheriff, register of deeds, and other constitutional officers depending on the election cycle and term expiration dates. All 14 North Carolina seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be on the ballot in 2026. Residents should verify their congressional district and candidates through the Board of Elections. North Carolina allows no-excuse absentee voting by mail. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Absentee ballot request forms are available at www.ncsbe.gov or from the Sampson County Board of Elections. Requests must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. On the Tuesday before Election Day, though earlier requests are encouraged. Completed ballots must be received by the Sampson County Board of elections by 5:00 p.m. On Election Day (postmark does not count; the ballot must be received). Military and overseas voters have extended deadlines. The state also offers early voting, typically beginning 17 days before Election Day and running through the Saturday before the election, with extended hours including evenings and weekends.