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ELECTIONS

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2026 GENERAL ELECTION / CARTERET COUNTY / UPDATED OCTOBER 24

A clear look at your 2026 ballot.

Candidate names, party labels, local offices, and three statewide constitutional questions — with direct links to the official record.

Plan your vote.

In-person early voting resumes Monday, October 26, and runs through Saturday, October 31. Check your sample ballot and polling place before you go.

EARLY VOTING REMAINING

October 26–31

Oct. 26–30, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. • Oct. 31, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

ELECTION DAY

Tuesday, November 3

Carteret County polls are open 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

MAIL BALLOTS

Due November 3 by 7:30 p.m.

The request deadline has passed. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Official early voting sites & hours ↗

Your address determines your ballot.

Profiles were rechecked October 24 against the NCSBE 2026 General Election Candidate Detail List, generated October 13. Party labels follow that filing record. Contests vary by address; use NCSBE Voter Search for your official sample ballot.

A neutral candidate and issue guide. Campaign contacts come from the public filing record; inclusion is not an endorsement.

Federal offices

These federal contests appear on the Carteret County candidate list. Compare candidate statements and records on federal policy, coastal communities, and public spending.

Judicial races

The NCSBE list includes one Supreme Court seat and three Court of Appeals seats. Party labels follow the official filing record; compare legal experience, public statements, and published opinions.

NC Supreme Court — Associate Justice, Seat 1

The state’s highest court reviews cases on appeal.

NC Court of Appeals — Seat 1

Compare biographies, judicial records, and each candidate’s stated approach.

NC Court of Appeals — Seat 2

Compare biographies, judicial records, and each candidate’s stated approach.

NC Court of Appeals — Seat 3

Compare biographies, judicial records, and each candidate’s stated approach.

North Carolina General Assembly

Carteret’s listed contests are State Senate District 2 and House District 13. Compare candidate plans for coastal infrastructure, schools, public safety, and the state budget.

NC Senate — District 2

The state senator represents the district in Raleigh.

Norman Sanderson

Republican / as filed with NCSBE

NC House — District 13

The state representative works on state law and the budget.

Carteret County contested offices

Compare plans for public safety, county services, growth, and property-tax decisions.

Board of Commissioners — District 3

The county board sets county policy and adopts the budget.

Three statewide constitutional questions.

Carteret County’s referendum list includes these statewide questions. Wording follows the official NCSBE referendum record.

Photo identification for all voters

The proposal would require photo identification for voting by any method.

Official ballot wording: “Constitutional amendment to require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.”

The ballot asks voters to choose For or Against.

3.5% state income-tax ceiling

The proposal would keep the state income-tax rate from being raised above 3.5%.

Official ballot wording: “Constitutional amendment to keep the State income tax rate from being raised higher than three and one-half percent (3.5%).”

The ballot asks voters to choose For or Against.

Limits on local property-tax increases

The proposal requires the General Assembly to limit increases in local property-tax levies, with possible exceptions.

Official ballot wording: “Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments.”

The ballot asks voters to choose For or Against.

Oct. 26–30, 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. • Oct. 31, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Other county offices and candidate listings.

The NCSBE file lists these single-candidate county offices. Confirm which appear on your address-specific ballot.

District Attorney, District 4 — Matt Wareham (Republican)
Board of Commissioners, District 1 — Steven Overby (Republican)
Board of Commissioners, District 2 — Chuck Shinn (Republican)
Board of Commissioners, District 6 — Chris Chadwick (Republican)
Board of Education, District 1 — Anne Scott
Board of Education, District 3 — Clark Jenkins
Board of Education, District 5 — Brooke Cash
Board of Education, District 6 — Kathryn Smith Chadwick
Clerk of Superior Court — Ken Raper (Republican)
Register of Deeds — Karen Hardesty (Republican)

Additional local listings in the NCSBE file: Carteret Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor candidates Dennis Collins, Mickey Simmons, and Glenn Howell; Harkers Island Sanitary Board candidates Wayne Willis, Clifford A. Rice, and Doug Johnson. Their appearance may depend on residence and seat rules; check your sample ballot.

Municipal mayor and council contests are not part of the November 3 county ballot.

Check the record before you vote.

Candidate names and party labels were rechecked October 24 against the NCSBE Candidate Detail List dated October 13. Amendment wording was rechecked against the NCSBE Referendum List. Voting dates and early-voting locations come from Carteret County. Last checked October 24, 2026.

Candidate contact links reflect public campaign contact details in the state filing record. Candidate inclusion is not an endorsement.
Portrait thumbnails use public-domain official sources where available. Michael Whatley photo: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0.