By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
For generations, municipal elections in the state's smaller towns have operated on a simple premise: neighbors voting for neighbors based on local issues, free from the toxic polarization of national party politics. Senate Bill 876 aims to dismantle that tradition by forcing a mandatory partisan framework onto all 11 municipalities in Moore County, as well as its school board.
Senate Bill 876 features several mandates impacting Rowan County, Chowan County, Harnett County, and Moore County, which is our focus due to the divisive potential of this legislation. First, a partisan switch requiring all 11 municipalities in Moore County and the Moore County Board of Education to transition from nonpartisan to partisan elections starting in 2028. Additionally, election postponements. SB 876 cancels the county’s 2027 and 2029 municipal elections, pushing them to 2028 and 2030 to align with even-numbered election cycles. Also, term extensions. This bill extends the terms of all currently serving municipal and school board officials by one year to accommodate the shifted schedule. Finally, unaffiliated requirements like stricter ballot access rules, forcing unaffiliated candidates to complete a petition process to appear on the ballot.
To understand what this means for everyday citizens, The Carolinian sat down with a group of local residents, elected officials, and community advocates to discuss how this legislative overreach will affect the people and why the state’s massive block of independent voters is being locked out of the room. “At its core, the critique of SB 876 is that it represents an escalation beyond traditional gerrymandering. Instead of merely redrawing lines to favor one party, the bill actively alters the rules of engagement for local democracy. This is beyond gerrymandering," the community advocate explains. "They are weaponizing local elections, from town boards across nine different municipalities to school boards, to make it so you simply cannot run for office unless you force yourself into a Republican or Democrat box."
Moore County is home to the internationally renowned Pinehurst Resort. Known globally for its world-class golf courses and luxury hospitality, the area is historically conservative. However, local critics argue that the Republican-controlled County Commission and state lawmakers are no longer satisfied with a natural majority; they are seeking dominance. "Even a natural majority isn't good enough anymore," a resident notes. "They need everything to be legally and systematically controlled by Republicans. In a place like Pinehurst, which welcomes people from all over the world, the local political leadership is sending a chilling message: If you are not part of the Republican party, you are not welcome."
The greatest irony of SB 876 is how sharply it diverges from the actual demographic reality of North Carolina. Registered unaffiliated or independent voters now constitute the largest voting bloc in the state, outnumbering both registered Democrats and Republicans. By forcing municipal elections into a partisan primary system, the law creates intentional, systemic barriers for these independent voters and candidates. Under the new rules, an unaffiliated candidate can no longer simply file to run for their local town board; they must successfully navigate a grueling petition process just to get their name printed on the ballot.
