North Carolina

Alongside candidate races, North Carolina voters are deciding three constitutional amendments. One would extend the state's existing in-person photo voter ID requirement to absentee-by-mail ballots, building on a 2018 amendment that survived years of litigation before the state Supreme Court upheld it in 2023. A second would cap the state income tax rate at 3.5%, below the current 3.99% flat rate. A third would limit how much local governments can raise property taxes annually. Polling shows strong public support for all three measures, though critics warn the tax caps could constrain future lawmakers and local governments during downturns. None of the changes take effect immediately after Election Day.

The Justice Department announced indictments against 18 people in North Carolina for allegedly voting illegally in the 2024 election, bringing the state's total to 30 cases tied to that election cycle. Federal grand juries in Charlotte and Greensboro returned charges spanning all three of the state's federal districts, with defendants including lawful permanent residents from countries such as Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, France, Cuba, and Argentina accused of falsely claiming citizenship to register or vote. One defendant allegedly cast ballots dating back to 2000. The indictments arrive as the Trump administration intensifies voter fraud investigations ahead of the midterms, with charges carrying penalties up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Early voting continues to outpace prior midterm cycles ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Nationally, more than 12.6 million Americans have voted early, with a CNN analysis of 25 states finding Democrats leading turnout among both high- and low-propensity voters, especially in Kansas and North Carolina. Iowa absentee ballots are up nearly 30% from four years ago, and Florida has topped 3.5 million ballots cast with Republicans narrowly ahead. Oklahoma saw a 41% jump in first-day turnout over 2022, driven largely by Democrats and independents, though Republicans still led overall. In Buncombe County, N.C., turnout has already surpassed all of 2022. Analysts caution early returns don't reliably predict final results.

A ConsumerAffairs analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data ranks the Jacksonville metro area No. 2 among the 100 largest U.S. metros for property taxes rising faster than home values from 2022 to 2024. The typical homeowner's tax bill rose 21.7% while median home values increased 8.1%, a gap second only to Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida. Nationally, home values rose faster than taxes over the same period, though a five-year view shows Jacksonville home values up 63.1% since 2019, outpacing a 44.9% rise in taxes.

Florida's Amendment 3, needing 60% approval, would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 while cutting the non-homestead assessment-growth cap from 10% to 5%. Backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it has split Republicans and drawn opposition from police, firefighter, and county groups warning of billions in lost local revenue; proponents argue local governments can absorb cuts after years of rapid tax collection growth.

North Carolina voters will decide Nov. 3 on a constitutional amendment requiring state lawmakers to cap increases in local property tax collections, though the measure leaves specific limits undetermined. Buncombe County commissioners voted to formally oppose it, citing vague language that could jeopardize funding for schools, emergency services and Helene recovery efforts. Commissioner Parker Sloan said approval wouldn't guarantee lower tax bills and could shift more control to the General Assembly, with large property-owning utilities and corporations potentially benefiting most. Some residents say the amendment's wording is confusing. If passed, lawmakers would still need to set actual collection limits and any exceptions.

Jonathan D. Miller, the Libertarian Party's nominee for North Carolina state Senate District 16 covering much of Cary, fled into nearby woods on Monday carrying a revolver after an officer responding to a welfare check saw his weapon and ordered him not to touch it. Miller posted real-time updates to X describing suicidal thoughts and his evasion of police, and spoke repeatedly by phone with a local TV station during the hours-long standoff before surrendering near his apartment complex. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. Police Chief Terry Sult said Miller had been "in a dark place." Miller faces charges including communicating threats, resisting officers, going armed to the terror of the people, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and is held at the Wake County Detention Center. He faces Republican Philip Hensley and Democratic incumbent Gale Adcock on the Nov. 3 ballot.