Sylva’s recent municipal election has barely concluded, but the imminent return of yard signs will be coupled with an array of campaigning tactics: mailers, TV commercials, billboards, Facebook ads, and fervent debates on television.
Aspiring candidates eager to enter the political arena can formally file their candidacies starting from noon on Monday, December 4, through noon on Friday, December 15.
Jackson voters face a busy schedule for North Carolina’s 2024 primary on March 5, with a diverse array of positions up for contention.
At the apex of the ballot is the U.S. Presidency, likely to feature a rematch between former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden.
With Thom Tillis securing the 2020 election and Ted Budd emerging victorious in 2022, there won’t be a race for the U.S. Senate. However, the U.S. House seat held by Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) will be fiercely contested.
As Governor Roy Cooper is ineligible for re-election after serving two consecutive terms, the current leading contenders in the gubernatorial race are Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, alongside other declared candidates.
For the position of lieutenant governor, five Republicans and two Democrats have announced their candidacy.
Additionally, various other crucial offices are on the ballot, including Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, and commissioners of Labor, Agriculture, and Insurance.
The seats of State Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) and Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) will also be contested in the upcoming election.
Multiple judgeships are up for grabs, spanning N.C. Supreme Court Justice, N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Superior Court Judge, and District Court Judge positions. Locally, county commission seats such as those of Mark Jones (Southern Jackson) in District 4 and Tom Stribling in District 3 (Cullowhee, Webster, and Savannah) are open for election.
Candidates running for commissions must reside within their district, although the election is determined by all Jackson County voters.
Furthermore, two seats on the Board of Education will be included on the March 5 ballot, comprising the terms of Vice Chair Wes Jamison (District 3) and Chair Elizabeth Cooper (District 1) which expire in 2024. Notably, school board elections are decided during the Primary Day rather than the General Election. Aspiring candidates are required to file a notice of candidacy form, disclose any felony convictions, and pay the stipulated filing fee to participate.
Candidates interested in local office can submit their paperwork to the Jackson County Board of Elections at 876 Skyland Drive, while those eyeing state or federal positions must file in Raleigh.
Comprehensive filing information is available on the State Board of Elections website, www.ncsbe.gov.
The primary season commences shortly after the new year.
On January 12, county boards of elections will commence mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who have previously submitted an absentee ballot request form.
February 9 marks the voter registration deadline, and in-person early voting commences on February 15. February 27 is the final day to request an absentee ballot. Early voting concludes at 3 p.m. on March 2, with the primary scheduled for March 5.
