It's Election Day in the Carolinas, with races for mayors and other local officials. Here's a last-minute look at what's on the ballot in and around Charlotte.
By late Tuesday, Charlotte will have elected a new mayor and several new city council members. Current Mayor Jennifer Roberts lost in the primary to current council member Vi Lyles, a Democrat. The one major poll in this election shows Lyles in a neck-and-neck race with Republican Kenny Smith, also a current council member.
Mecklenburg County elections officials expect 17 to 18 percent turnout countywide. Two years ago it was 14.8 percent.
And early voting suggests there is more voter interest this year. About 36,000 people voted early. That’s about five percent of registered voters, and double the number in city and town elections two years ago - though this year had five extra days of early voting.
The Charlotte City Council will have at least five new faces, among the 11 seats. Two at-large Democrats on the council are up for reelection, against a field that includes two other Democrats, three Republicans and a Libertarian. They're vying for a total of four at-large seats. Races for several city council district seats also are contested.
Across the county, voters will elect six Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board members, and vote on a countywide $922 million bond package for new school construction and renovations.
Contested mayoral races are on the ballot in the towns of Matthews, Davidson and Pineville, along with elections for town boards. Davidson also has a three-part referendum on bonds for streets, greenways and parks & recreation projects.
Elsewhere around the region, there are races for mayor in Raleigh, Asheville and Greensboro. And voters in York County will decide whether to keep a one-cent sales tax that pays for infrastructure improvements.
Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. WFAE will have live election results and analysis beginning at 7 p.m., and updated election results throughout the night on WFAE.org
ELECTION INFORMATION
Voter information, including sample ballots and poll addresses, are at MECKBOE.org
See all WFAE election coverage this fall at WFAE.org/term/2017-election
Live statewide election results on the state Board of Elections page, NCSBE.gov
