Raleigh’s municipal election was postponed to Nov. 8, 2022 (from Oct. 5, 2021) due to delays with Census data necessary for redistricting. Last week, Gov. Cooper chose to let the legislation pass without his signature — here's what you need to know.

The big picture: This decision will cause permanent changes to local elections, including all future elections being held on even years. Elections will also now be decided by a plurality method, as opposed to a runoff method.

What is a plurality method? In this method of voting, the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they receive a simple majority. For comparison, runoff method elections require a runoff vote to be held if no candidate receives 51% or more of the vote.

Why it matters: Following each Census, municipalities and school districts with election districts are required to update district lines. However, the pandemic has delayed the data release from March-September, which won’t allow enough time for redistricting prior to an on-schedule election.

Did you know we have a council manager system of government in Raleigh? That means the city council (comprised of the mayor, 2 at-large members, and 1 representative for each of the 5 districts) is responsible for legislation. This includes policy-making + the passing of local ordinances.

Worth noting: Municipalities without districts + those that allow everyone to vote for each district (that’s you, Durham) will not be affected by the election postponement. Local elections in those places will continue normally in fall 2021.

Looking for ways to get involved with city decisions while you wait for the election? Join one of Raleigh’s 29 boards or commissions.