Montreat, North Carolina Public Records

Registration must be completed at least 25 days before an election and requires a valid North Carolina driver's license or DMV-issued ID number; applicants without one must provide the last four digits of a Social Security number. The Town of Montreat holds municipal elections for mayor and town council (board of commissioners) in odd-numbered years, most recently in November 2023, with the next regular municipal election scheduled for November 2025 (note: this is not a 2026 election year for Montreat municipal offices). The mayor serves a two-year term while commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. Municipal candidate filing and information can be obtained through the Montreat Town Hall at 828-669-8002. Because the town has its own incorporated government, residents vote on town-specific ordinances and leadership in addition to county, state, and federal races. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Voter Search Tool at ncsbe.gov/voting-elections or by contacting the Buncombe County elections board. In the November 2024 presidential election, Buncombe County reported turnout of approximately 77% of registered voters, with over 180,000 ballots cast countywide, reflecting high engagement in this politically active area. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026 (the fall 2026 general election), voters will decide several critical races: the U.S. Senate race (North Carolina has a Senate seat up in 2026 with Senator Thom Tillis's term expiring), all North Carolina State House seats for the 120-member General Assembly, selected North Carolina State Senate seats (senators serve staggered terms), Buncombe County Commissioner races, Buncombe County Sheriff, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Superior Court, county school board positions, and various judicial races for District and Superior Court judges. North Carolina will NOT have a gubernatorial race in 2026 (the Governor is elected in presidential years). North Carolina allows no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail. Requests can be submitted online through the State Board of Elections portal at ncsbe.gov, by downloading a request form and mailing it to the Buncombe County Board of Elections at 59 Woodfin Place, Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28801, or in person at the elections office. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5:00 PM on the Tuesday before Election Day, though earlier requests are strongly encouraged. The state also offers extensive early voting (typically 17 days before Election Day) at multiple sites throughout Buncombe County including locations in Asheville, with specific sites and schedules published by the Board of Elections before each election. Public election records available in North Carolina include voter registration lists (available for political purposes with restrictions on commercial use), campaign finance reports searchable at ncsbe.gov/campaign-finance, candidate filing information, precinct-level election results, and poll worker information. These records support transparency in the electoral process and are accessible through the State Board of Elections and county boards of elections.