Election Information

Regular municipal elections are held biyearly on the date provided by law. In each election year, the qualified voters of the City elect Council Members and the Mayor for terms as provided.

Elections are nonpartisan. All elections for Mayor and City Council Members are nonpartisan, and nothing on the ballot in any election is indicative of the source of the candidacy or of the support of the candidate, and determination of the election results is in conformance with determination of the election results as set out in North Carolina General Statute 163-279.

Voting. Staggered terms for Council members began with the elections held in 1997. The mayor is elected every four years for a term of four years. Council Members are elected every four years for a term of four years. In 2023, the General Assembly shifted municipal elections to occur in even years. (See below for details.) 

Regulation of elections. All municipal elections are conducted in accordance with the general laws of North Carolina relating to municipal elections, except as otherwise provided.

The Henderson County Board of Elections conducts the City elections. If you need more information, please contact them at (828) 697-4970.

 

2024 Election Information

Due to changes in the NC General Assembly impacting local elections (initiated by SB 265), there are some changes to when and how municipal elections will be conducted in the City of Hendersonville. Changes to the election cycle and filing schedule are the result of state actions and were not at the request of your locally elected Hendersonville leaders.
 
Municipal elections, although non-partisan, are now held in even years to coincide with the overall national and state election cycle. To assist the Henderson County Board of Elections with administering non-partisan municipal elections, City Council members will be elected using the plurality method – meaning there is no primary and the top vote getters for the number of open seats will win.
 
The filing period for the two 4-year term seats up for election in November 2024 will be December 4-15, 2023.
 
Additionally, following a resignation in the fall of 2023, Council Member Jerry Smith's seat was filled by a City Council vote according to the City of Hendersonville Charter and NC General Statute 160A-63. On November 2, 2023, former City Council Member Jeff Miller was selected to serve until the next election (through November 2024).
  • In November 2024 voters will elect a candidate to serve for the remaining two years of the term (through November 2026)
  • The seat vacated by Jerry Smith will be elected separately from the two seats that are up for election in November 2024
  • The filing period for the two 4-year term seats and the newly vacant 2-year seat will be December 4-15, 2023.
 
The Henderson County Board of Elections conducts City of Hendersonville elections. If you need additional information, please visit https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/elections or contact the Board of Elections at (828) 697-4970.