BlogNorth Carolina General Election 2026: Voter Guide to State Amendments and Housing Bonds

North Carolina General Election 2026: Voter Guide to State Amendments and Housing Bonds

Written by Andrea Almendariz, Advocacy Intern

 

 

At a Glance

Key Takeaways

  • NC State Amendments: Voters will decide on three constitutional amendments covering Property Tax Levy Limits, lowering the Income Tax Rate Cap, and requiring Voter ID for mail-in ballots.
  • City of Charlotte Housing Bond: Charlotte residents will decide on a $125 million Housing Bond measure to replenish the Housing Trust Fund and support affordable housing development.
  • Service Area Focus: Covers voters across Habitat Charlotte Region’s service areas in Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Iredell counties.
Introduction

How the 2026 General Election Shapes Local Housing

November 3rd elections are fast approaching. Voters will cast ballots deciding which representatives, judges, commissioners, and constitutional amendments will shape the direction of their states, cities, and daily lives, including the cost and availability of housing.

Every voter within the Habitat Charlotte Region service areas (Gaston, Iredell, and Mecklenburg Counties) should go into November prepared not just with their registration confirmed and their polling location saved, but with a clear understanding of what is actually on the ballot and what it means for the communities Habitat serves.

Constitutional Amendments

Understanding the Three North Carolina State Amendments

The following three North Carolina State Amendments will be on the ballot:

  • The Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment: Also known as North Carolina State House Bill 1089, this proposed constitutional amendment would change and restrict the total amount of property tax revenue that local governments can collect each year, and limit how much that revenue can grow even when property values rise. Plus, it is a cap on total revenue, not just the property tax rate. If passed, it impacts local governments’ ability to fund community services and shifts authority over tax revenue away from local elected officials and toward the state legislature.

 

  • The Reduce Income Tax Rate Cap Amendment: This proposed constitutional amendment would lower North Carolina’s constitutional income tax cap from 7% to 3.5%. North Carolina reduced the cap from 10% to 7% in 2018. Under existing law, the individual income tax rate is scheduled to drop to 3.49% for tax years 2027 through 2029 and could fall as low as 2.49% by the early 2030s. This amendment would lock the lower rate at 3.5% and any increase above 3.5% would require both legislative supermajority and voter approval through a new ballot measure.

 

  • The Required Voter Identification Amendment: North Carolina voters approved the in-person photo identification (ID) requirement in 2018. Under this proposed amendment, voters casting absentee ballots by mail would need to include a photocopy of their ID, with several exceptions available, such as submitting an exception form for a lost ID, or substituting the last four digits of their Social Security number. In general, if approved by voters this November, the measure would amend the state constitution to require photographic identification for all forms of voting.

Charlotte Local Bond Measures

What Is the City of Charlotte Housing Bond Measure?

There are three bond measures that Charlotte City voters will decide on including transportation ($280 million), neighborhoods ($25 million), and housing ($125 million). A YES VOTE on the housing bond measure supports Habitat and other organizations working hard to provide affordable rentals, affordable homeownership opportunities, and critical home repair services that allow residents to have safe, habitable housing while aging in place.

To learn more about how this measure funds local development, read our full article on The History and Impact of the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund.

As one Habitat employee put it:

“For any project that aims to house people within the [low-median] income range, there has to be subsidy. These projects cannot move forward without some sort of outside funding to support them because the construction costs way outpace what is affordable for people within that income range.”

Important Dates & County Voter Links

General Election Voter Schedule and County Resources

Charlotte Cityscape with Autumn Colors

For complete, official guidance on local election rules, voting deadlines, and official county election board contacts, voters can visit the official North Carolina State Board of Elections Portal.

To check your voter status, request mail ballots, or view county-level board contact details, check your official county board of elections site:

Frequently Asked Questions

What constitutional amendments are on the 2026 North Carolina ballot?

Voters will decide on three constitutional amendments: restricting property tax revenue growth (Property Tax Levy Limit), capping state income tax at 3.5% (Reduce Income Tax Rate Cap), and expanding photographic ID rules to mail-in absentee voting (Require Voter Identification).

What is the City of Charlotte Housing Bond Measure?

The proposed $125 million Housing Bond Measure provides public subsidies to Charlotte’s Housing Trust Fund to support affordable rental construction, affordable homeownership developments, and senior home repair programs.

Where can I find official voter registration and polling resources?

Official voting tools and local election information are available through the North Carolina State Board of Elections and county election office portals.

Works Cited

Butts, Ronn. Explainer: the Constitutional Amendments on the 2026 Ballot; WUNC News; Sept. 22, 2026

 

Michels, Sarah. “What’s up with all these ballot questions in NC in 2026? https://www.wfae.org/politics/2026-09-21/whats-up-with-all-these-ballot-questions-in-nc-in-2026; Sept. 21, 2026

 

Matthews, Mackenzie, and George T. Smith III. “Examining Changes to North Carolina Property Tax Law: Levy Limits and the Affordable Housing Exemption.” Maynard Nexsen PC, 7 May 2026, https://www.maynardnexsen.com/publication-examining-changes-to-north-carolina-property-tax-law-levy-limits-and-the-affordable-housing-exemption  

 

“North Carolina Require Voter Identification Amendment (2026).” Ballotpedia https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_Require_Voter_Identification_Amendment_(2026)