2018 Election: What To Expect On The Mecklenburg County Ballot

CHARLOTTE, NC — A Baptist preacher going up against a former Marine. In what is proving to be one of the top national races to watch in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, that’s exactly what’s at stake as Charlotte-area voters decide who will fill the state’s 9th District seat in the U.S. House. Choosing who heads to Congress is just one of many choices Mecklenburg County voters have before them.

Here's what you need to know before heading out to the polls on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 6.

What Seats Are On The Ballot?

On a national level, Democrats need to flip 23 Republican-held seats in order to take control of the U.S. House, and one of the races they believe they can do just that is in the Charlotte-metro region. Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready are battling to fill North Carolina’s 9th District seat, which is currently held by Republican Robert Pittenger, who lost the bid to stay on the ballot during his party’s primary election earlier in the year. In a race that’s increasingly looking like a toss-up, McCready has reportedly raised $4.3 million for his campaign, compared to Harris’ $1.6 million, WFAE reported.

U.S. House, NC 9th District

• Dan McCready (D)
• Mark Harris (R)

This election is also pivotal on the state General Assembly level, where all members of the North Carolina House and Senate serve two-year terms and are up for reelection. Here are the General Assembly races on the ballot in Mecklenburg County:

NC Senate, District 37

• Jeff Jackson (D)
• Nora Trotman (R)

NC Senate, District 38

• Mujtaba A. Mohammed (D)
• Richard Rivette (R)

NC Senate, District 39

• Chad Stachowicz (D)
• Dan Bishop (R)

NC Senate, District 40

• Joyce Waddell (D)
• Bobbie Shields (R)

NC Senate, District 41

• Natasha Marcus (D)
• Jeff Tarte (R)

NC House, District 88

• Mary G. Belk (D)
• Ty Turner (R)

NC House, District 92

• Chaz Beasley (D)
• Debbie Ware (R)

NC House, District 99

• Christy Clark (D)
• John R. Bradford III (R)

NC House, District 99

• Nasif Majeed (D)
• Joshua Niday (R)

NC House, District 100

• John Autry (D)
• Nancy Campbell (R)

NC House, District 101

• Carolyn Logan (D)
• Steve Mauney (R)

NC House, District 102

• Becky Carney (D)
• Tyler Norris (R)

NC House, District 103

• Rachel Hunt (D)
• Bill Brawley (R)

NC House, District 104

• Brandon Lofton (D)
• Andy Dulin (R)

NC House, District 105

• Wesley Harris (D)
• Scott Stone (R)

NC House, District 106

• Carla Cunningham (D)
• Geovani Opry Sherow (R)

Ballot Amendments

North Carolina’s 2018 ballot will also include six amendments, all put forward and endorsed by the GOP-led General Assembly. The state’s Democratic party, however, is encouraging voters to vote against all six proposed changes to the state constitution. It’s rare for voters to encounter so many proposed changes at once, according to the News & Observer.

Each ballot question, which are linked below, will allow voters to select “For” or “Against” on the following issues:

• Require Photographic Identification To Vote: Details about how this would be implemented are scant and the legislature would be tasked with writing the details should it pass.
• Legislature To Control Judicial Appointments: This proposed change would curtail the governor’s power to fill judicial vacancies, giving it to legislators.

• Cap Maximum State Income Tax At 7 percent: This amendment would lower the current 10-percent cap, and would not alter the current personal income tax rate for voters, which is 5.499 percent, the News & Observer said.
• Party Leaders In Legislature To Control Ethics and Elections Board Appointments; Eliminate Nonpartisan Representation on Board: Much like the judicial appointment amendment, this amendment would strip the governor’s ability to choose members of the elections board, while bestowing it to the legislature. This measure would also shrink the current nine-member panel down to eight (with each party filling them with four representatives) by eliminating the nonpartisan position.
• Changes To Current Victims’ Rights Amendment: expands rights for victims of felony crimes.

• Right To Hunt And Fish: This amendment has a lot of people scratching their heads, as there is no threat to the

Early Voting Underway

Early voting began in Mecklenburg County Oct. 17 at 19 polling sites and eligible individuals may register and vote during one-stop early voting.

Mecklenburg County Early Voting Locations:

• Hal Marshall Services Center — 618 N College St, Charlotte
• Elon Park Recreation Center — 11401 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte
• Beatties Ford Road Library — 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte
• Bette Rae Thomas Rec center — 2921 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte
• Cornelius Town Hall 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
• Hickory Grove Library — 5935 Hickory Grove Road, Charlotte
• Hornet's Nest Pavilion— 6301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte
• Huntersville Town Hall — 101 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville
• Independence Regional Library — 6000 Conference Dr.
• Main Library (Downtown) — 310 N Tryon St.
• Marion Diehl Recreation Center — 2219 Tyvola Rd.
• Matthews Library — 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews
• Mint Hill Library — 6840 Matthews – Mint Hill Rd., Mint Hill
• Morrison Regional Library — 7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte
• South County Regional Library — 5801 Rea Rd., Charlotte
• Steele Creek — 11130 S Tryon St., Charlotte
• Sugar Creek Library — 4045 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte
• University City, Old Pier 1 — 8802 JW Clay Blvd., Charlotte
• West Boulevard Library — 2157 West Blvd, Charlotte

Those locations will be open at the following times:

• Wednesday, Oct. 17 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 18 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 19 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 20 — Closed
• Sunday, Oct. 21 — Closed
• Monday, Oct. 22 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 23 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 25 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 26 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 27 — 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 28 — 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 29 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 30 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 31 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 1 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 2 — 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 3 — 8 a.m. - 1 p.m
• Sunday, Nov. 4 — Closed
• Monday, Nov. 5 — Closed
• Tuesday, Nov. 6, ELECTION DAY — 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

You can find more information about the upcoming election here.

Photo via Shutterstock