Ready to vote in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough? Here are the details.
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Voter Guide: Chapel Hill, Carrboro & Hillsborough elections
On Nov. 4, 2025, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough voters will elect mayors and town board members, and Chapel Hill and Carrboro voters will also elect Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board members. Here is information about voting and the candidates.
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It shouldn’t take Orange County voters long to vote this year for mayors, town board members and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board candidates.
Chapel Hill’s and Hillsborough’s mayors are unopposed, as are the incumbent candidates for Carrboro Town Council and Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. The city school board race has two incumbents and one challenger running for three seats.
In contested races, Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee faces a challenge from Joe Lloyd Jr., a retired heating and air-conditioning professional.
And five people are running for four seats on the Chapel Hill Town Council, including two incumbents. All of them want to make the town more transit-friendly, with greenways connecting densely built neighborhoods to shopping, school and work.
While that might incline many voters to sit out the election, voting-rights advocates say it’s still important to cast a ballot. Voting holds incumbent candidates accountable for their decisions and shows the winners which local issues voters are invested in, whether it’s parks, taxes or development.
A single vote also has more power in low-turnout local elections, which are often decided by a few hundred votes or less.
Here’s what to know about the 2025 municipal and school board elections:
Who’s running in Carrboro, Hillsborough and Chapel Hill
Carrboro
- Mayor: Barbara Foushee* and Joe Lloyd Jr.
- Town Council (3 seats): Fred Joiner, Danny Nowell* and Cristóbal Palmer”
*incumbent
Hillsborough
- Mayor: Incumbent Mark Bell
- Board of Commissioners (2 seats): Robb English* and Kathleen Ferguson*
- *incumbent
Chapel Hill
- Mayor: Jessica Anderson
- Town Council (4 seats): Camille Berry*, Wes McMahon, Paris Miller-Foushee*, Louie Rivers III and Erik Valera.
*incumbent
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board (3 seats)
- George Griffin*, Riza Jenkins* and Melinda Manning
*incumbent
Learn more about the candidates at www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article306243656.html.
Get ready: Vote in person or Early Vote
Early Voting begins Oct. 16 in Hillsborough, and expands to four sites in Carrboro and Chapel Hill on Oct. 23. Weekend hours vary.
During early voting, voters may cast ballots at any polling station. This is different from Election Day, when voters must cast ballots at their assigned station.
The polls will open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 for the general election.
North Carolina voters must show a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or ID card, U.S. passport, or college ID. A free photo ID is available at the Orange County Board of Elections, 208 S. Cameron St. in Hillsborough, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Voter registration is available at Early Voting sites for Orange County residents who meet the qualifications. Proof of Orange County residence is required. More info: https://orangecountync.gov/1116/Early-Voting
When and where to go Early Vote
Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo St., Hillsborough
- Oct. 16-17 and Oct. 20-24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Oct. 26, noon-4 p.m.
- Oct. 27-30, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where to vote in Carrboro and Chapel Hill
- Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro
- Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
- Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill
When to vote in Carrboro and Chapel Hill
- Oct. 23-24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Oct. 25, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Oct. 26, noon-4 p.m.
- Oct. 27-30, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nov. 1, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Who has endorsed local candidates?
Equality North Carolina Action Fund PAC
- Chapel Hill: Paris Miller-Foushee, Louie Rivers III and Erik Valera, Town Council
- Hillsborough: Kathleen Ferguson, Board of Commissioners; Mark Bell, mayor
- Carrboro: Barbara Foushee, mayor
- Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board: George Griffin, Riza Jenkins, Melinda Manning
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 8:31 AM.
