IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Iredell County voters approved a referendum that will change county commissioner term lengths in future elections in Tuesday's primary election.
The referendum changes how commissioner seats are chosen. Currently, Iredell County elects the two candidates with the highest votes to four-year terms while the third-highest candidate is elected to a two-year term. That rule has been in place since 1974. The referendum does away with the vote-getter rule and elects all county commissioners to four-year terms.
The change will take effect in the 2026 election, when three seats are up for grabs. The referendum passed with 15,406 votes to 14,688 votes against it. County commissioners raised the issue in December and pushed to put it on the ballot for Super Tuesday.
Tuesday's primary election determined who will be on the ballot for November's general election. Among the hottest races will be for governor, with Democrat Josh Stein facing Republican Mark Robinson. Stein, who is attorney general, has support from outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper. Meanwhile, Robinson, who is North Carolina's lieutenant governor, has earned the support of former President Donald Trump, appearing with him at numerous rallies across the state.
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