Kannapolis, North Carolina Public Records

Applications must be submitted at least 25 days before an election, though same-day registration during the early voting period is available for those who miss that deadline, provided they bring proof of residency. North Carolina currently does not require voter ID following legal challenges, though the issue remains a subject of legislative debate. Municipal elections for mayor and city council take place in odd-numbered years on a non-partisan ballot. The city council consists of a mayor and five members who serve staggered four-year terms, with elections held each November. Residents can find their assigned polling places using the North Carolina State Board of Elections' voter search tool at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/, which also shows sample ballots, early voting sites, and current registration status. Early voting runs for approximately 17 days before each election at multiple locations across the county, including Saturdays and one Sunday. All U.S. All State House seats are up, with the community split between portions of Districts 83 and 92, while half of the State Senate seats will also be contested. County positions including commissioners, sheriff, and register of deeds will appear on the ballot, along with potentially other county offices depending on when terms expire. North Carolina does not hold gubernatorial or U.S. Senate elections in 2026, as those races occur during presidential years. Voters may also weigh in on local bond referenda or ballot measures proposed by the city council or county commissioners. North Carolina makes numerous election records available to the public, including voter registration lists for legitimate purposes, campaign finance reports searchable at https://www.ncsbe.gov/campaign-finance, candidate filings, precinct-level results, and absentee ballot statistics. Individual voter history, which elections someone participated in, though not how they voted, is also public information. The state offers absentee by-mail voting; residents must request ballots through the State Board of Elections website or by contacting the Cabarrus County elections office. Absentee ballot requests must arrive by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before Election Day, and completed ballots must be returned by 7:30 PM on Election Day. Acceptable reasons for absentee voting include being age 65 or older, illness or disability, absence from the county during early voting and Election Day, observance of religious holidays, or service as an election official. Military and overseas voters receive additional accommodations under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).