Voting in Raleigh Looks Different This Year

What’s changed, what to pay attention to, and when to expect CITYBUILDER’s voter guide

If you just voted in November, it’s reasonable to feel like you’re owed a little break. But for Raleigh residents, local elections now start earlier and follow a different rhythm than they used to. Never fear though, we’ve got you covered with a full breakdown of Raleigh’s upcoming election season.

Over the past few years, Raleigh’s local government changed how municipal elections work. Those reforms affect when you’ll first see candidates on the ballot, how races are narrowed, and even the terms that councillors serve. This is our short, practical guide to what’s different and what to keep an eye on next.

Raleigh City Council and Mayoral races now begin with a non-partisan primary that appears on the same ballot as the partisan county primaries you’re used to seeing in even years. In the spring, all the Council candidates run together in these non-partisan Council primaries. In Council district races, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. In at-large City Council ra…