Macon County • Board of Elections

The Macon County Board of Elections is committed to conducting fair, honest, impartial and efficient elections so that all qualified citizens in Macon County may exercise their right to vote.
The Elections Office is responsible for conducting all elections in Macon County; including municipal, county, state, and federal elections, and special referenda.

The Macon County Board of Elections provides:

• Proof of registration upon request
• Speakers for various functions at the request of groups desiring information about voter
• Registration and the election process
• Computer printouts, diskettes, and labels for a fee
• Procedural guides for candidates
• Election results to candidates, media, and citizens

The Macon County Board of Elections is also responsible for:

• Voter Registration
• Maintaining voter registration records
  Filing Candidates for Municipal, County, State Senate, and State House of Representatives
• Administering the provisions of the campaign reporting laws
• Training precinct officials
  

Types of Elections

There are three types of elections: Municipal, Primary and General elections. The following information will describe each type

Municipal Election
An election held for towns, cities or other special districts. Only residents of these municipalities and districts are eligible to vote in these elections. These elections are held in odd-numbered years.

General Election
A General Election is defined as a partisan election in which candidates are elected. All registered voters are eligible to vote in a general election. General elections are held in even-numbered years.

General elections are held for the following offices:

• U.S. President / Vice President*
• U.S. House Of Representatives (Congress)
• North Carolina State House and State Senate officials
• County Officials (e.g., County Commissioners)
• Municipal Officials (e.g., mayor, council members)**
• School Board
• General elections also may include bond proposals and referenda.

* Four-year general elections (based on presidential election year).
** Municipal officials will be elected in 1999 general elections and every two years thereafter.

Registered voters may vote for candidates in either party, regardless of their declared party affiliation.

Primary Election
A Primary is defined as an election which nominates candidates to the ballot for the General Election. The nominees of each party are then placed on the ballot for general election. Primary elections are held in even numbered years prior to the general election.

A Primary Election is held to nominate a candidate to represent a political party in the General Election. Primary elections are held for the following offices:

• U.S. House Of Representatives (Congress)

Governor and other North Carolina officials such as:

• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary Of State
• State Auditor
• State Treasurer
• Superintendent Of Public Instruction
• Commissioner Of Labor
• Commissioner Of Insurance
• Commissioner Of Agriculture
• North Carolina State House and State Senate officials
• County Officials (e.g., County Commissioners)
• Municipal Officials (e.g., mayor, council members)

Registered voters may vote ONLY in the primary election of their declared party. If a voter is registered as "unaffiliated", he/she may vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary election.

POLITICAL PARTY
AN ORGANIZATION OF VOTERS WHICH SUPPORTS A POLITICAL VIEW, AND IS RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

NON-PARTISAN
An election where candidates do not run as a nominee of a political party. Judicial elections are non-partisan as well as most municipal elections.

PARTISAN
An election where the candidates must be a nominee of a recognized political party or otherwise qualify.

UNAFFILIATED
Choice to not register with a political party.