2018 Election: What To Expect On The Iredell County Ballot

MOORESVILLE, NC — In what could prove to be one of the national races to watch in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, the face off between Rep. Tedd Budd and Democratic challenger Kathy Manning will decide just who fills the state’s 13th District seat in the U.S. House. Choosing who heads to Congress is just one of many choices Iredell County voters have before them.

On a national level, Democrats need to flip 23 Republican-held seats in order to take control of the U.S. House, which makes two of the races in Iredell County pivotal, with outcomes that can’t be taken for granted. The 13th District race, for example, is considered a competitive race, and is considered a toss up leaning Republican, Cook Political Report said earlier this week.

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?

U.S. House, NC 10th District

• Patrick McHenry (R)
• David Wilson Brown (D)

U.S. House, NC 13th District

• Kathy Manning (D)
• Tom Bailey (L)
• Ted Budd (R)
• Robert Corriher (G)

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 Iredell County:

NC Senate, District 34

• Beniah McMiller (D)
• Vickie Sawyer (R)

NC House, District 84

• Rena W. Turner (R)
• Allen R. Edwards (D)

NC House, District 95

• Carla Fassbender (D)
• John A. Fraley (R)

You can find a list of all candidates, including those running for judicial and board of education, here.

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 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 Iredell County Oct. 17 at three polling sites and eligible individuals may register and vote during one-stop early voting. Early voting ends Saturday, Nov. 3.

Iredell County Early Voting Locations:

• Board of Elections, 203 Stockton Street, Statesville
• War Memorial Building, 220 N. Maple Street, Mooresville
• Peninsula Baptist Church, 687 Brawley School Road, Mooresville

You can find the hours of operation for the one-stop early voting sites here.

You can find more information about the upcoming 2018 election in Iredell County here.

Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Mooresville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.