- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor attends and runs City Council meetings, serving as an important leader for how local laws get set. These laws affect local services, such as Police, City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation.  
- The Mayor in some circumstances may vote to break a tie in council meetings. They do not have veto power.

Lincolnton

2026 North Carolina General Election

North Carolina

Housing Costs

Policing

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Mayor

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 

One of the local lawmakers for your city.

Quality of Roads

Civil Rights

Energy & the Environment

City Council Member

The Clerk of Superior Court is elected in each county through a partisan election for a four-year term. The Clerk has five main responsibilities:
- Probate Judge: Handles 46 types of actions, including managing estates, guardianship proceedings, and appointing personal representatives.
- Court Administrator: Oversees the administration of the court.
- Record Keeper: Files, processes, and maintains all cases and documents submitted to the court.
- Financial Manager: Manages the collection, investment, and distribution of money from court fees and traffic citations.
- Employee Manager: Supervises a team ranging from 5 to over 200 employees.


Oversees the county's probate court, judicial administration, records, and finances.

Macon

Victim Assistance

Judicial Efficiency

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Budget

Clerk of Superior Court

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

Taxes

Public Health

County Commissioner

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

Sheriff

- The Register of Deeds Office issues marriage licenses and supplies copies of birth and death certificates. They also may assist in administering notary public oaths. 
- The Register of Deeds is elected every two years. 

Record keeper for important local documents

Administration

Register of Deeds

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is mostly independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, make decisions based on the superintendents recommendations, manage the finances of the board, appoint the superintendent, and provide good quality school facilities.
- In addition to the typical responsibilities of a Board of Education Member, Board of Education Chairs also oversee create the agenda for board meetings.
- Board of Education members are most often elected to 4 year terms in nonpartisan elections, although some counties in North Carolina elect members to 2 year terms. The Chair of the County Board serves in their role for 1 year. 

Head of the board that governs your county's public school system.

Madison

College & Career Readiness

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Access to Education

Teachers

County Board of Education Chair

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system

County Board of Education Member

Burlington

Alamance

Haw River

Gibsonville

Elon

Ossipee

Mebane

Swepsonville

Green Level

Graham

Cary

Fayetteville

Seagrove

Spring Lake

Taylortown

Aberdeen

Pinebluff

Raeford

Jamestown

Franklinville

Ramseur

Siler City

Goldston

Foxfire

Southern Pines

Pinehurst

Archdale

High Point

Apex

Greensboro

Trinity

Staley

Summerfield

Sedalia

Pleasant Garden

Candor

Whispering Pines

Whitsett

Liberty

Randleman

Robbins

Carthage

Asheboro

Cameron

Vass

Wilkesboro

North Wilkesboro

Elkin

Yadkinville

Ronda

Boonville

Jonesville

Mount Airy

Dobson

Pilot Mountain

East Bend

Taylorsville

King

Kernersville

Walnut Cove

Hickory

Danbury

Stokesdale

Eden

Wentworth

Sparta

Lansing

Seven Devils

Blowing Rock

Rhodhiss

Lenoir

Hudson

Cedar Rock

Sawmills

Granite Falls

Gamewell

Tobaccoville

Cajah's Mountain

Reidsville

Stoneville

Jefferson

West Jefferson

Boone

Mayodan

Oak Ridge

Beech Mountain

Hot Springs

Spruce Pine

Bakersville

Clyde

Canton

Banner Elk

Elk Park

Sugar Mountain

Newland

Crossnore

Grandfather

Burnsville

Marshall

Full profiles for every county in the state

Candidate lists and metadata for every county in the state

2026 North Carolina candidates

Lincolnton Mayor

How this impacts you

Lincolnton City Council Member, Ward 3

How this impacts you

Macon Clerk of Superior Court

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Macon County Commissioner, District 1

How this impacts you

Macon Sheriff

1 candidate

Macon Register of Deeds

1 candidate

Madison County Board of Education Chair

How this impacts you

Madison County Board of Education Member, District 1

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Madison County Board of Education Member, District 2

How this impacts you

Madison Sheriff