Municipal Election Info
Learn more about municipal elections with our Municipal Election Basics flyer. Have all of the 2023 municipal election information at your fingertips with our Municipal Election Trifold Brochure.
Sample Ballots
Sample ballots are now available for the November 7, 2023 municipal election. Use the State Board of Elections Voter Search tool to get your sample ballot. On your record, scroll down to the Your Sample Ballot section.
FIND YOUR SAMPLE BALLOT (Voter Search Tool)
You can mark a sample ballot with your choices and use it in the voting booth. You can also mark a sample ballot or make notes on your smart phone and use those notes in the voting booth. NOTE: You cannot communicate with anyone using your phone while in the voting booth, and you cannot take a photo of your official ballot.
Does your record indicate there are no eligible ballots? That means you do not reside within a municipality or special district that holds elections this year. Not all Brunswick County residents are eligible to vote in municipal elections. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact our office.
Candidate List
Candidate filing begins at noon on Friday, July 7 and ends at noon on Friday, July 21. During the filing period, a list of candidates who have filed will be updated at the end of each day.
You can find out what seats are up for election on the List of Elected Officials.
The State Board of Elections publishes a candidate list which includes contact information. You can find that list on this page under 2023 Candidate Lists.
Municipal Elections
In Brunswick County, municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years to elect governing officials (mayors, city councils, town councils, etc.). This also includes sanitary districts and Dosher Hospital’s governing board. The municipal election is open only to residents of the municipality. Voters must have lived in the municipality for at least 30 days before Election Day. In Brunswick County, municipal elections are nonpartisan. The party affiliation of candidates is not listed on the ballot.
Municipal Elections Fact Sheet (PDF)
2023 Municipal Election
Candidate Filing
Filing Dates: Friday, July 7 at noon through Friday, July 21 at noon
Candidate Withdrawal Deadline: Tuesday, July 18 at 5 PM
Filing Fees: Filing fees for municipal offices are $5, except for Belville ($15) and Oak Island ($25). Filing fees should be paid in the form of a cash, check or money order. Business or corporate checks are not accepted. Exact change is required if paying in cash. (Cash is only accepted if filing fees are less than $50).
Important Dates
Friday, October 6: Absentee ballots available
Sunday, October 8: Residency deadline
Friday, October 13: Voter registration deadline (forms must be postmarked by this date)
Thursday, October 19 – Saturday, November 4: One-stop early voting (see the schedule here)
Tuesday, October 31: Last day to request absentee ballot
Tuesday, November 7, at 5:00 pm: Hand delivered absentee ballots due at the Board of Elections office
Tuesday, November 7: Municipal Election (polls open from 6:30 am – 7:30 pm)
Monday, November 13: Mailed absentee ballots due at the Board of Elections office (must be postmarked on or before November 7)
Friday, November 17, 11:00 am: Canvass
Municipal Election Eligibility
Not all voters in Brunswick County are eligible to vote in municipal elections.
The city listed as part of your address does not reflect that you live within a municipality. That is providing your city for mailing and 911 purposes. Municipal elections can only be voted on if your home is within the jurisdiction’s limits.
You are eligible to vote in this year’s municipal elections if you have something listed for Municipality, Sanitary District, or Rescue District under ‘Your Jurisdiction’.
If you see Unincorporated for Municipality, you do not reside in a municipality.
Voter Residency Requirements
Not all voters in Brunswick County are eligible to vote in municipal elections.
A common misconception is that anyone who owns property or pays taxes to a municipality or county has the right to vote. The reality is that a person needs to establish that location as their permanent residence to vote there.
Staff of the North Carolina State Board of Elections offers the following general opinion: “A person may have an actual abode (residence) in one place, and their permanent established home (domicile) in another. A domicile is the place to which the person intends to return. The law requires all persons to have only one domicile for voting purposes.”
