Election Day for local elections in Orange County is Tuesday, November 2 with polls open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. 97.9 The Hill will break down results on air beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Here’s what you need to know before casting your ballot.
COVID-19 Precautions
Rachel Raper, the director of elections for Orange County, said some changes from the 2020 election cycle are set to carry over.
“I had truly hoped November 2020 would be the first and the only election I would have to conduct in a pandemic,” Raper said. “Unfortunately, I was wrong.”
During the voting period, several safety protocols will be present. Masks are required and will be provided to voters who do not have them. Single use pens will be used for voters to mark their ballots.
Raper said social distancing protocols will also remain.
“This time we have a playbook that we can go by,” Raper said. “We know what safety protocols are necessary for voters and our staff to be able to vote and work safely during this pandemic.”
Photo via Orange County Board of Elections
Where Can I Vote?
On Election Day, November 2, polling places are open 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
“The main difference between early voting and voting on Election Day,” said Raper, “is on Election Day, you must go to your assigned precinct to vote.”
Voters can check their registration, see their assigned polling place, and view a sample ballot here.
All voters must have registered to vote at their current address in the county by October 8, in order to cast their ballots on Election Day.
A photo ID is not required for voting.
Early voting ran from October 14 through October 30. During early voting, 6,863 people cast their ballots at the four early voting locations according to the Orange County Board of Elections.
Photo via Orange County Board of Elections
Raper said Orange County had a larger early voter turnout for the 2021 election than it did in the 2019 election.
“I believe it was about 40 percent more than we saw in 2019,” Raper said. “I don’t know if that means that voter turnout will be higher or if that’s just the changed behavior of voters – that more voters are just choosing to vote early.”
Who’s Running?
Learn more about the candidates filed for Orange County elections, and hear about their decision to run for elected office, as well as their background in the community, here.
Chapel Hill Mayor
- Zachary R. Boyce
- Hongbin Gu
- Pam Hemminger (Incumbent)
Chapel Hill Town Council (4 seats available)
- Robert Beasley
- Camille Berry
- Jeffrey C. Hoagland
- Paris Miller-Foushee
- Vimala Rajendran
- Adam Searing
- Karen Stegman (Incumbent)
Carrboro Mayor
- Michael Benson
- Damon Seils
Carrboro Town Council (3 seats available)
- Jacquelyn Gist (Incumbent)
- Randee Haven-O’Donnell (Incumbent)
- Barbara Middleton-Foushee (Incumbent)
- Aja Kelleher
- Danny Nowell
Hillsborough Mayor
- Jenn Weaver (Incumbent)
Hillsborough Board of Commissioners (2 seats available)
- Robb English (Incumbent — appointed)
- Kathleen Ferguson (Incumbent)
- Anna Linvill
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education (3 seats available)
- George Griffin
- Ryan C. Jackson
- Riza Jenkins
- Meredith Pruitt
- Mike Sharp
- Tim Sookram
For more election coverage and candidate introductions, visit Chapelboro’s Local Election Coverage page.
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