Every four years, North Carolina voters line up for presidential contests. Every two years, we brace for the midterms. But tucked in between those headline-grabbing cycles are the “off-year” local elections — often overlooked, often ignored, yet just as critical to the direction of our state and our daily lives. Municipal races, city council seats, mayoral contests, school boards — these are the contests that directly shape our daily lives.
Denise Turner Roth, a candidate for Greensboro City Council, reminded me of this in a recent conversation. When I think about Greensboro and its recent economic development successes, partisan talking points don’t apply — infrastructure, smart growth, and housing needs dominate. The Gate City is on the verge of receiving more than 20,000 jobs from new investments by companies like Toyota and JetZero. That wave of opportunity will either lift all boats or deepen existing divides depending on what city council choose to do about workforce training, housing affordability, and zoning reform.
Consider housing: without a more diverse stock of homes, from starter units to senior living, growth will leave too many families behind. There is also serious discussion to be had around transit, crime, and attracting business. These are not abstract issues; they are daily life issues. And they are decided at city hall or county governments.
Yet here’s the paradox: the very elections that decide these issues routinely suffer the lowest turnout. In Greensboro, early voting for the city council primary kicked off Sept. 18, with Election Day on Oct. 7. These dates won’t trend on social media. They won’t draw a crush of cable news coverage. But they determine how billions in capital investment is managed and how opportunities are distributed.
Why do people skip them? Roth and I discussed the usual suspects — busy schedules, lack of awareness, the feeling that national elections matter more. But here’s the reality: when your trash pickup is delayed, when your water bill rises, when a grocery store opens (or closes) in your neighborhood, when a developer decides whether to invest on your block — those aren’t White House decisions. Those are local government decisions.
But Greensboro is not alone in having high-stakes local races this autumn. Across the Triangle region — from Durham to Chapel Hill, Cary to Wake Forest and beyond — dozens of municipalities are holding their local elections on Nov. 4, 2025, with early voting around mid-October.
Why do these local contests matter more than many people think?
Nearly everything you care about is local. Your property taxes, public safety, roads, trash pickup, parks, zoning, schools — all are decided locally. Not to mention low turnout means high leverage. When only a fraction of registered voters show up — as often happens in off-year and municipal elections — a relatively small number of voters can shift a result. Your vote has more weight than you realize.
So here’s my challenge: Treat off-year elections with the same urgency you bring to presidential years. Donate to candidates who reflect your values. Volunteer. Make a plan to vote and bring a friend. Moreover consider leveraging your individual talent into a community benefit through elected office.
We often treat presidential and midterm years as the apex of civic duty. They are important, yes — but for many of the issues that touch you daily, it’s your city council meeting, your school board vote, and your municipal laws that are doing the heavy lifting.
Fall in love with your town or city, know who your elected and appointed representatives are on all local boards and commissions. Build trust through consistent engagement, share ideas, and be a willing participant in community conversations shaping your daily life. Become a living demonstration of local civic responsibility and leadership to the next generation instead of furthering misguided narratives about national politics.
Off-year local elections are about our kids’ future, our neighborhoods’ stability, and our ability to seize the opportunities knocking at North Carolina’s door. Don’t wait for a presidential year. Your city, your town, and your neighborhoods need you now.