2024 General Election coverage and voting information

Voting info

You can find "everything that you need to know regarding the 2024 General Election in New Hanover County" from the county's Board of Election here.

• In a divisive election, we found a few Carolina Beach voters happy to see beyond party labels
• Friday, Saturday last days to register and vote early in NHC. Election Day is November 5
• Signs for fascist white-supremacist group Patriot Front posted at Wilmington polling site
• Brunswick County Democratic canvassers report increase in harassment, threats
• NHC Board of Elections shares voting info, dispels misinformation

Important dates

* You can still register at Early Voting (a.k.a. 'One stop') sites until November 2.
**Vote totals aren't official until the canvass. Candidates have two business days to request a recount if the races are sufficiently close.

Voter ID info from NHC Board of Elections

• Voters will be asked to show photo ID in the 2024 General Election.
• Most voters will simply show their driver's license, but many other types of ID will be accepted. (For a list of acceptable photo IDs, see the North Carolina State Board of Elections Voter ID webpage (link).)
• Voters without a photo ID can get a No Fee ID Card (link) from the NCDMV. 
• Voters can also get a free voter ID card from the county board of elections office. Contact the New Hanover County Board of Elections Office at (910)798-7330

For more information about Voter Photo ID in North Carolina visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections Voter ID webpage.

Constitutional Amendment

Voters will see it under a “REFERENDA” section on their ballot. Underneath, it will say “Constitutional Amendment” and will read:

Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at any election in this State.

Voters will be able to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the measure.

It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections. The current entry in the North Carolina constitution says that voting is limited to “every person born in the United States and every other person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age.”

The amendment was pushed for by Republican lawmakers based on concerns that the courts could allow non-citizens to vote under some circumstances — although it found significant support from Democratic lawmakers as well. Multiple advocacy groups and Democrats have come out against the ballot measure, saying it’s unnecessary and will sow confusion among immigrant voters who are legally allowed to vote.

More info:

• NC House Republicans want a question about non-citizen voting on November's ballot
• What is the 'citizens-only' voting amendment on 2024 North Carolina ballot?
• Immigrant advocates worry about motives behind citizens-only voting amendment

U.S. Congress

• The Newsroom: Marlando Pridgen, Democratic candidate for North Carolina's 7th Congressional District
• The incumbent, David Rouzer, did not respond to multiple requests for an interview

State House and Senate races

• A closer look at the gerrymandered state senate districts in the Cape Fear Region
• Forum fact-check: House, Senate candidates on PFAS, redistricting, vouchers, and more
• The Newsroom: Unpacking the state House and Senate candidates' forum
• Voter Guides: Legislative races in the Cape Fear Region
• State Senate District 7 candidate David Hill (D)
• State Senate District 7 candidate Michael Lee (R)
• State Senate District 8 candidate Katherine Randall (D)
• House District 19 candidate Jill Brown (D)
• House District 20 candidate Jon Berger (D)
• House District 17 candidate Charles Jones (D)
  

Judicial and District Attorney races

District Attorney's race, Prosecutorial District 6: Democrat Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson and Republican Jason Smith are running for District Attorney for Pender and New Hanover counties. It's an open seat, following the retirement of Ben David, who served as DA for 20 years.

• Attack ads in District Attorney's race anger staff, former DA
• The Newsroom: New Hanover and Pender DA candidates Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson and Jason Smith

Judicial races

• District 6 Superior Court Judge candidates: Ricardo Jensen (D) and Max Ashworth (R)
• 5th District Court Judges: Russel Davis (D) and Richard Kern (R)
• Candidates running for local judicial positions explain why their races are important

Brunswick County

• Why are Brunswick County GOP incumbents skipping candidate debates?
• Brunswick County Commissioner Voter Guide
• Brunswick County Commission Candidate Bob Fulton (Una)
• Brunswick County Commission Candidate Jonathan Damico (D)
• Brunswick County Commission Candidate Tom Simmons (D)

New Hanover County races

Campaign finance

Here's the latest on campaign financings from second-quarter reports for New Hanover County commissioner and school board candidates.

This report covers campaign fundraising and spending through the end of June. It’s often effectively the last chance to look at how the candidates are stacking up financially, since the third-quarter report, which runs through mid-October, is due a week before Election Day and isn’t always available before people hit the polls.

Town Halls and Questionnaires

In preparation for our town hall for candidates running for seats on the New Hanover County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners, we sent a questionnaire with some of the most commonly raised issues (and most frequently asked questions) we hear from the community.

• From questionnaires to town halls, some Republican candidates disengage with the media

Board of Commissioners

• Voter Guide: New Hanover County Commissioners
• The Newsroom: Unpacking the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners candidates' forum
• John Hinnant (R)
• Cassidy Santaguida (D)
• Dane Scalise (R) 
• Stephanie Walker (D)

Board of Education

• The Newsroom: Unpacking the New Hanover County school board candidates' forum
• NHC school board candidate forum: Fact-checking and analysis
• Voter Guide: New Hanover County School Board candidates
• Nikki Bascome (R)
• Jerry Jones (D)
• Judy Justice (D)
• David Perry (R)
• Tim Merrick (D)
• Natosha Tew (R)

*Note: This article has been updated to clarify that Democratic lawmakers also supported the constitutional amendment.