On August 22, 2024, the Cary Council adopted an ordinance changing Cary’s election date to the first Tuesday in November, along with other local elections in Wake County. We also changed our Council elections to the plurality method. We didnt get any pushback during the comment period, with no citizen petitions requesting a referendum on this change, so the change is effective for the 2025 election cycle. The Wake County Board of Elections has updated its website with the date of Cary’s next municipal election, November 4, 2025.
Why?
I led the charge to change the elections from stand-alone elections in October to November elections at the same time as other municipal races. Why did I do that?
- To increase voter turnout: I am among the many people who, for a long time, did not understand that Cary had elections in October, and I was missing them for years. I was so disappointed when I learned this about a decade or so ago. If you look at my voting record, it is clear that I haven’t missed a primary and voted in nearly every March and November election since I was young. Now, if I, a highly engaged voter and regular campaign volunteer, didn’t know, surely this is true of other residents of Cary. And our municipal elections had paltry turnouts. People were impressed if it was over 12-15%. Not OK.
- It costs too much money: Back when other races were also in October, we could share the cost. That isn’t the case anymore; every other local race in Wake County is now in November. Paying the full costs alone doesn’t make sense – especially for early voting. Moving the elections to November will save Cary hundreds of thousands of dollars. So I brought it to the table, and we talked it through and looked at the data, and in the end, we voted unanimously to move our elections.
- Because runoffs are unnecessarily rough: And have even lower voter turnout than the initial October elections. We do have to go to a plurality method as we have rules about swear-in dates, but so be it. The person that wins the most votes wins the election, and it no longer has to be 50% plus one vote (or more).
So there you have it. I lean into being practical, and I believe this is one of the more practical things I have championed since joining council.
So make sure you vote during early voting in late October and early November this year, or on election day on November 4th, 2025. I am hoping to see a big increase in voter turnout, and THAT my friends is what democracy looks like!
The details for Cary voters in WAKE COUNTY:
Early Voting:
October 16 – November 1
Wake County Board of Elections
1200 N. New Hope Rd, Raleigh 27610
October 25 – November 1
Town Hall Campus at Herbert C. Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary, NC 27513
Avery Street Recreation Center
125 Avery Street, Garner, NC 27529
John M. Brown Community Center
53 Hunter Street, Apex, NC 27502
Election Day:
November 4th, 2025
Find Your Polling Place at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/pplkup
Vote by Mail:
Request your ballot online at votebymail.ncsbe.gov
Same-Day Voter Registration at Early Voting:
Register at any Wake County early voting site with ID and proof of your current address on a utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.
The details for Cary voters in CHATHAM COUNTY:
Chatham County Election Info:
www.chathamcountync.gov/ government/departments-programs-a-h/elections
Early Voting:
October 16 – November 1
Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center (AG Center)
1192 US 64 W Business, Pittsboro, NC 27312
October 25–November 1
New Hope Baptist Church
581 New Hope Church Rd., Apex, NC 27523
Election Day:
November 4, 2025
Find Your Polling Place at https://vt.ncsbe.gov/pplkup
Vote by Mail:
Request your ballot online at votebymail.ncsbe.gov
Same-Day Voter Registration at Early Voting:
Register at any Wake County early voting site with ID and proof of your current address on a utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.