North Carolina elections, 2016
Welcome to the North Carolina elections portal for 2016. Scroll down for information about what was on the ballot, election dates, voting, and more. North Carolina saw elections for the offices listed below in 2016. Click the links to navigate to Ballotpedia's overview pages for each of these elections, where you will find background, candidate lists, dates, analysis, and more.
Election results
As a result of the 2016 election, the state government of North Carolina came under divided partisan control. While Democrats won the governorship, Republicans gained one seat in the state Senate, holding 35 seats to Democrats' 15. Republicans also retained control of the state House with 74 seats to Democrats' 46—the same numbers as before the election.
In 2016, North Carolina had two U.S. Senate seats and 13 U.S. House seats. Incumbent Republican Richard Burr won re-election to the U.S. Senate election in a race that was considered a battleground race. The U.S. Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Scalia's death in early 2016 highlighted the importance of this race due to the impact that the Senate's partisan balance would have on confirming a replacement. All of the U.S. House seats were also up for election in November. Republicans won 10 of the state's seats, and Democrats took three.
North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory (R) lost his bid for re-election to Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper. On election night, the race was too close to call, and county canvases were scheduled for November 18, 2016. McCrory conceded the election on December 5, 2016. There was also one contested seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in which challenger Michael R. Morgan defeated incumbent Justice Robert H. Edmunds, Jr.
In 2016, North Carolina was one of 26 states, as well as Washington, D.C., that offered initiative and/or veto referendum rights for its citizens. One statewide ballot measure was certified for the ballot in 2016. The measure, which proposed issuing $2 billion in bonds for economic development and infrastructure projects in 76 counties, was approved.
Donald Trump won North Carolina's 15 electoral votes in the 2016 general election for president. Mitt Romney carried North Carolina in the 2012 general election for president. See also: Presidential election in North Carolina, 2016.
Voting
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| Presidential primary dates | |
| North Carolina election dates | |
| 3/15/2016 | Presidential and state primary (no congressional seats) |
| 6/7/2016 | Congressional primary |
| 11/8/2016 | General election (nationwide) |
| Ballot access dates | |
| 12/1/2015 | Filing period for partisan candidates opens |
| 12/21/2015 | Filing period for partisan candidates closes |
| 6/9/2016 | Unaffiliated candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit petitions to county boards of election for verification |
| 6/24/2016 | Unaffiliated candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit petitions to the state board of elections |
| 6/24/2016 | Unaffiliated candidates for state legislative offices that span only one county must submit petitions to the appropriate county board of elections |
| 7/26/2016 | Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit their petitions to county boards of election for verification |
| 8/10/2016 | Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices that span more than one county must submit their petitions to the state board of elections |
| 8/10/2016 | Write-in candidates for state legislative offices that span only one county must submit their petitions to the appropriate county board of elections |
Find answers to common questions about voting in North Carolina below.
- How do I register to vote?
- Is there an early voting period?
- Who is eligible for absentee voting?
- What are the voter ID laws in North Carolina?
- What time were the polls open?
General information about voting or getting on the ballot is provided at the following links.
Official elections page: North Carolina State Board of Elections
Primary election
See Primary elections in North Carolina.
Elections to watch
- United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2016
- North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016
- North Carolina Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2016
- North Carolina Attorney General election, 2016
- North Carolina Supreme Court elections, 2016
What makes an election notable?
History
Presidential Voting Pattern
The percentages below show North Carolina voter preference in general election presidential races from 2000 to 2012.[1]
For more information, see: Presidential voting trends in North Carolina.
North Carolina vote percentages
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U.S. vote percentages
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See also
Footnotes
Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable elections:
- Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
- Rematches between candidates
- Elections that receive considerable media attention
- Elections that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
- Noteworthy elections involving party leaders
- Open, competitive elections with Republican and Democratic primaries
- Elections that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements
