Union County voters must register by Oct. 9 to cast ballots in the Nov. 3 general election. The ballot includes a jail bond referendum, a U.S. Senate race, an NC Supreme Court contest and three proposed constitutional amendments.

Voter registration closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, according to the Union County Board of Elections. Residents who miss that deadline can still register and vote at an early voting site, but they must bring proof of residence such as a government ID, utility bill or bank statement.

What's on the ballot

The biggest local question is a countywide bond referendum for a new detention center. The Union County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday, July 20 to put the measure before voters. If approved, property taxes would rise an estimated 3.11 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a home valued at $400,000, that works out to about $124.40 more per year.

The current jail is overcrowded. It was built in 1994 under a federal court order and has significant mechanical and structural problems. County leaders said renovation would cost roughly the same as replacement, making a new facility the more practical option.

Board of Commissioners Chair Brian Helms said the jail's condition is well documented. "It's not a question of whether Union County needs a new jail; it becomes a question of what's the more affordable way to make that happen," he said in a county press release about the July 20 vote. The proposed facility would include roughly 500 beds.

Beyond the jail bond, Union County voters will weigh in on several high-profile contests:

U.S. Senate: Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, faces Republican Michael Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chair, for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. CBS News reported the Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia's Center for Politics both rate the race as leaning Democrat. An Elon University Poll released Thursday, Sept. 10, showed Cooper leading 49% to 38% among likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6 percentage points.

NC Supreme Court: Democratic incumbent Justice Anita Earls faces Republican challenger Sarah Stevens, a former state House member who resigned in June after 17.5 years in the legislature. Carolina Public Press reported that a Stevens victory would expand the court's conservative majority to 6-1.

Constitutional amendments: Three proposed changes to the NC Constitution will appear on the ballot, according to the League of Women Voters of NC. They would lower the maximum state income-tax rate from 7% to 3.5%, require the General Assembly to limit local property-tax levy increases, and expand the photo ID requirement to all voting methods.

The ballot also includes NC House and Senate races, NC Court of Appeals seats, Superior and District Court judges, and county offices. Voters can find their specific district races and candidates on the NC State Board of Elections website.

How to vote

Early voting runs Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 31. The one confirmed site is the Union County Library Griffin Room, 316-A East Windsor St., Monroe. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The county's early voting plan was among 20 referred to the State Board of Elections over a scheduling dispute, The Center Square reported. Readers should check unioncountyncelections.gov for the final approved schedule.

Absentee ballot mailings began Friday, Sept. 4. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Completed ballots must reach the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

Election Day polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters will be asked to show photo ID, though all voters may cast a ballot with or without one. Free photo IDs are available from the county Board of Elections. Curbside voting is available for voters unable to enter a polling site due to age or physical disability.

The Union County Board of Elections can be reached at (704) 283-3809 or [email protected]. The office is at 316-B East Windsor St., Monroe.