2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3rd
Early Voting: October 15th – October 31st 🎃
Click here to read “My Take on This Year’s General Elections” and the importance of voting this election cycle.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see my marked sample ballot endorsements or CLICK HERE.
Resources and Information:
For complete information on how to register and vote on the same day; early voting locations and hours; where and when to vote on Election Day; a list of Election Day Precinct locations; and a full discussion of candidates on your November 3rd Democratic ballot, use the navigation bar at the top or side of your page. All candidate discussions are presented in ballot order.
PAY ATTENTION: There are several versions of the November 3rd Democratic ballot for Watauga County. Your ballot will offer different candidate choices or no candidate choices for School Board and County Commission based on what district the Raleigh Legislature dictated for you. My marked ballot below is one version of the allot with handwritten endorsements for School Board and Commissioners should your ballot offer one of those races.
If you want to view your actual ballot, do this: Go here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ Fill in at least your first and last name and county and submit. Then click on your name. Then scroll all the way down to the category “Your Sample Ballot.” Click on the one for the November 3rd election, and it will show what ballot you will receive at the polls.
THE DISCLAIMER: What is Pam’s Picks?
“Pam’s Picks” is simply one person’s opinion about the 2026 General Election Ballot. I am a progressive Watauga resident and have long held interest in local politics and issues. I am an activist for voting rights and environmental and community issues and generally endorse the candidate who most reflects and espouses my progressive ideology. Pam’s Picks endorsements may or may not reflect endorsements of a political party, but Pam’s Picks is independent of any political party.
What’s in Pam’s Picks?
General voting information (when, where, and how) and information on all candidates whose names will appear on your Novemeber 3rd Watauga County Democratic Primary Election ballot. The “Candidate Discussion” is presented in the order candidates will appear on your ballot. I have researched candidate campaign platforms and records where available. Information for my candidate discussions comes from candidates’ responses to the “Pam’s Picks Questionnaire,” candidate voting records, press reports, and/or other sources. I have also supplied candidate web site references and/or Facebook links where available. While the Watauga Board of Education races are “non-partisan,” I provide candidates’ party affiliations. I believe knowing the party affiliation of a candidate provides context and can suggest how a candidate’s decision-making might be guided by underlying beliefs and principles. For additional information, you can follow the provided links or contact candidates directly with your questions.
FURTHER NOTE: You have some excellent candidate choices on your ballot this year. Some of my endorsements have been an extremely close call for me to make. Regardless of whether you agree with my personal ballot choices, it’s important that you vote for your favored candidates.
This is how I will cast my ballot:
Click here for a printable “Pam’s Picks” marked sample ballot for the November 3rd general elections (PDF file). You can print out or take a picture of the above marked sample ballot and take it with you into your polling place or access “Pam’s Picks” on your phone inside the polling place. You are NOT allowed to use your cell phone to take pictures of your ballot or selphies once inside the polling place.