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Candidates wishing to file for the 2023 municipal elections can do so beginning at 12 noon on Friday, July 7 at their county board of election office. The filing period will remain open through 12 noon on Friday, July 21.

The only exception is Northampton County where filing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 10. The county celebrates Liberation Day on July 7 and all county offices will be closed that day.

Municipal elections give citizens the opportunity to elect the local governing body for their towns, often including seats for mayor and town commissioners/council members. Terms usually last either two or four years, varying by municipality.

Bertie County will have a number of municipal elections this year. Additionally, some towns will also include elections for seats with unexpired terms, meaning that the candidate elected will only serve out the remainder of the term instead of a full one. All of those unexpired terms are set to end in 2025.

The following towns will have these races on the ballot in the upcoming election:

Askewville – mayor, commissioners (three seats)

Aulander – mayor, commissioners (two full-term seats, three unexpired term seats)

Colerain – mayor, commissioners (two full-term seats, one unexpired term seat)

Kelford – mayor, commissioners (five seats)

Powellsville – mayor, commissioners (three seats)

Roxobel – mayor, commissioners (four seats)

Windsor – commissioners (three seats)

In Lewiston-Woodville, residents will elect four town council seats. Candidates can file for the Lewiston District (one full-term seat, and one seat with an unexpired term), the Woodville District (one seat), and At-Large (one seat).

According to a press release from the Bertie County Board of Elections, Powellsville and Windsor will follow nonpartisan primary and election methods. That means a primary election will be held if the number of candidates for the contest is greater than twice the number of seats to be elected. If necessary, the primary will be held in October.

Bertie County candidates can file at the Board of Elections Office, located at 210 W. Watson Street, Windsor. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The filing fee is $5 and is only acceptable by personal check or money order.

For more information, call the elections office at 252-794-5306.

There are no municipal elections scheduled for 2023 in Gates County.

In Hertford County, the following towns will have these races on the ballot:

Ahoskie – mayor, town council Ward A (one seat), town council Ward B (one seat)

Harrellsville – mayor, town council (five seats)

Murfreesboro – mayor, town council (five seats)

Winton – mayor, town council (five seats)

Cofield – mayor, town council (five seats)

Como will not have any municipal elections in 2023. The current terms there do not expire until 2025.

Hertford County candidates can file at the Board of Elections Office, located at 418 Everett Street, Suite A, Ahoskie. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The filing fee is $5 for most candidates, except for those in Murfreesboro and Ahoskie. Those fees are set by the municipal governing board and cannot exceed one percent of the annual salary of the office sought.

For more information, call the elections office at 252-358-7812.

In Northampton County, a number of towns will have seats up for grabs during this year’s election. Conway is the only town which will also include elections for unexpired terms, which means that the candidate elected will only serve out the remainder of the current term.

The following towns will have these races on the ballot:

Conway – mayor (unexpired term), commissioner (three full-term seats, one unexpired term seat)

Garysburg – mayor, commissioner (five seats)

Gaston – mayor, commissioner (three seats)

Jackson – mayor, commissioner (two seats)

Lasker – mayor, commissioner (three seats)

Rich Square – mayor, commissioner (five seats)

Seaboard – commissioner (two seats)

Severn – mayor, commissioner (five seats)

Woodland – mayor, commissioner (two seats)

Additionally, Northampton residents who are included in the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District can file for three open seats on the district’s Board of Directors.

Northampton County candidates can file at the Board of Elections Office, located at 9495 NC Hwy 305, Jackson. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The filing fee is $5 for all candidates except for Garysburg mayor. Those fees are set by the municipal governing board and cannot exceed one percent of the annual salary of the office sought.

For more information, call the elections office at 252-534-5681.

Candidates seeking election for any municipal seat must be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, and reside within the district in which he or she is seeking office. The North Carolina State Board of Elections website (ncsbe.gov) has more detailed information about candidacy and filing requirements.

The 2023 municipal election date is Tuesday, November 7. Beginning with the 2023 municipal elections, North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote.