Pink Hill, Snow Hill elections would move to even years under local bill

A local election bill approved by the North Carolina General Assembly would move municipal elections in Pink Hill and Snow Hill from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, beginning with the 2028 election cycle.

House Bill 1035, titled “Various Local Election Changes III,” was ordered enrolled June 23 after the House voted 78-34 to concur with Senate changes. The bill makes local election law changes for several municipalities across North Carolina.

The bill directly affects Pink Hill in Lenoir County and Snow Hill in Greene County. Jones County and the other Greene County municipalities have already made this change in previous years.

Under the bill, Pink Hill’s regular municipal elections would be held at the time of the general election in each even-numbered year. The mayor and commissioners would continue to be elected on a nonpartisan plurality basis.

The bill states that no municipal elections would be conducted in Pink Hill in 2027. The term of the mayor and one commissioner whose terms are set to expire in 2027 would be extended by one year. The terms of two commissioners whose terms are set to expire in 2029 also would be extended by one year.

Regular municipal elections in Pink Hill would resume in 2028, with the same staggering of terms used when the town held elections in odd-numbered years.

Rep. Chris Humphrey, R-Lenoir, said in a previous statement that the legislation came from a request by Pink Hill town leaders.

“This didn’t come from Raleigh, it came from Pink Hill,” Humphrey said. “The town commissioners sat down, looked at the numbers, and made a practical decision that benefits their residents.”

Humphrey said moving elections to even years would increase participation by putting municipal races on ballots during the regular election cycle.

“When you hold elections in odd-numbered years, you’re asking voters to make a special trip to the polls outside of the normal election cycle,” Humphrey said. “Turnout drops, and fewer voices shape local government decisions that affect people every single day, their roads, their water, their town services.”

Humphrey also said consolidating municipal elections with even-year elections would save taxpayer money.

“Conducting a standalone municipal election isn’t free,” Humphrey said. “By consolidating with even-year elections, Pink Hill saves real money, taxpayer money, without sacrificing anything.”

The bill also makes similar changes for Snow Hill.

Snow Hill’s regular municipal elections would move to the time of the general election in each even-numbered year. The mayor and commissioners would be elected on a nonpartisan plurality basis.

No municipal elections would be conducted in Snow Hill in 2027. The terms of two commissioners whose terms are set to expire in 2027 would be extended by one year. The terms of the mayor and three commissioners whose terms are set to expire in 2029 also would be extended by one year.

Regular municipal elections in Snow Hill would resume in 2028, with the same staggering of terms used under the town’s current odd-year election schedule.

The bill also includes changes for municipalities outside the local coverage area, including Bolivia, Belville, New Bern, Everetts, Columbus, Rural Hall, several Catawba County municipalities, Conetoe, Marion and Old Fort. Those provisions include moving some municipal elections to even years, changing some term lengths and modifying certain vacancy procedures.