Much could change in Buncombe County after this year’s midterm elections.
From local races like Asheville City Council to amendments of the North Carolina state constitution, the midterm ballot poses a bevy of important decisions for local voters. And while Election Day isn’t until Tuesday, Nov. 3, today is National Voter Registration Day — the perfect time to get prepared.
Mail-in voting is already underway for registered voters, and early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 15. Here’s what to know about registering to vote and making sure your voice is heard this fall.
How do I register to vote in Buncombe County?
First, check to see if you’re already registered using the online N.C. State Board of Elections Voter Search tool. If you’re listed as “active” in the state system, you’re set to vote
in the midterm elections.
If you’re not already registered, you have several options:
- Print out this form and mail it to Buncombe County Election Services at P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802.
- Register in person at the Election Services office at 35 Woodfin St. in Asheville.
- Register online through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles if you have a North Carolina driver’s license or other ID issued by the DMV.
- Register immediately before voting at an early voting location.
If you’re planning to vote on Election Day, the registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 9. You can register at an early voting site any time those sites are open between Thursday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 31.
What do I need to register to vote?
All voters must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years old. In North Carolina, voters cannot be in jail or prison or serving parole for a felony conviction.
To vote in Buncombe County elections, you must have been a resident of the county for at least 30 days before Election Day. This year, that cutoff date is Sunday, Oct. 4.
If you are registering in-person, you will need to bring a photo ID and proof of residence. The N.C. State Board of Elections has more information about acceptable forms of ID and proof of residence.
When and where can I vote?
Buncombe offers 13 sites for early voting distributed throughout the county. Each is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays. The sites are also open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 24-25. The final day of early voting on Saturday, Oct. 31, runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can find a full list of the county’s early voting sites here. During early voting, Buncombe also posts live online updates of voters in line at each location.
On Election Day itself — Tuesday, Nov. 3 — polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you vote on Election Day, you must vote at your precinct’s assigned location. You can check your polling place through the NCSBE's online Voter Search tool. If you vote in person, you’ll need to show an acceptable photo ID.
How do I vote by mail?
To vote by mail, you must formally request an absentee ballot either online or by completing this form and returning it to Buncombe County Election Services.
You must return your completed absentee ballot no later than 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. Ballots must include a copy of an acceptable photo ID and be witnessed by either a notary public or two individuals over the age of 18.
There are three options for returning an absentee ballot:
- By mail to P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802. Mailed ballots received after 7:30 p.m. on Election Day will not be counted, even if they are postmarked before that time.
- In person at any early voting site during early voting.
- In person at the Buncombe County Election Services office at 35 Woodfin St.
What’s on Buncombe County ballots?
All Buncombe County voters will vote in statewide races. Those include contests for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 11, the state Supreme Court, and three seats on the state Court of Appeals. Voters will also choose their senator and representative in the state General Assembly.
Additionally, the ballot will feature votes on three state constitutional amendments. If approved, the measures would limit the state’s maximum income tax rate to 3.5%, require the legislature to pass unspecified limits on local property taxes, and enshrine the state’s existing voter photo ID requirements in the constitution.
At the county level, Buncombe voters will elect three seats on the county Board of Commissioners, two Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors, and the sheriff. Although the district attorney, clerk of superior court, and multiple local judge seats are on the ballot, all of those races are uncontested. Voters will also decide whether to approve two bond referenda that would authorize $70 million in new county borrowing.
Both local school systems will be choosing new leadership as well. The Buncombe County Board of Education has contested races for Districts 5 and 6, while four seats are open on the Asheville City Schools Board of Education.
And at the municipal level, contested elections are taking place for Asheville’s mayor and three City Council seats. Black Mountain also has a contested race for three seats on its Town Council.
You can confirm the races in which you’re eligible to vote using the NCSBE's online Voter Search tool.
Daniel Walton is the City Government Watchdog Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at dwalton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Your guide to voting in Buncombe County's 2026 midterm elections
