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VOTE

"It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest." — Abraham Lincoln
 

Key dates for November 3, 2026

Registration deadline — 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026

Early voting — Thursday, October 15 through 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31

Election Day — Tuesday, November 3. Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Check your registration right now by texting VOTER to 59798.

How and where to vote

Early voting happens at one location in Polk County: the Board of Elections office at 231 Ward Street in Columbus. Weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is no Sunday voting in Polk County.

On Election Day itself you must vote at your own precinct. There is no voting at the Board of Elections office on November 3.

Missed the October 9 deadline? You can still register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Bring proof of where you live. Note that you cannot change your party affiliation with same-day registration.

You must have lived in North Carolina and in Polk County for at least 30 days before the election.

Who represents Polk County

Polk County is split between two congressional districts. Columbus and Tryon are in District 14 (Tim Moore). Saluda is in District 11 (Chuck Edwards). White Oak precinct is split between the two, so if you live outside town limits, check your address before you call — a call to the wrong office doesn't count. Look up your address at ncleg.gov/Redistricting

Federal

Washington, D.C. — the loudest lever we have and the hardest to move alone.

Thom Tillis — U.S. Senator (R), North Carolina

Seat is OPEN in November 2026; he is not seeking re-election

(202) 224-6342 · www.tillis.senate.gov/email-me

Ted Budd — U.S. Senator (R), North Carolina

The Asheville office is the closest one to Polk County

(828) 333-4130 · www.budd.senate.gov/contact

Tim Moore — U.S. Representative (R), NC-14

Your representative if you live in Columbus or Tryon

Spindale office: (980) 460-8110 · timmoore.house.gov/contact/email-me

Chuck Edwards — U.S. Representative (R), NC-11

Your representative if you live in Saluda. Not a candidate in 2026.

Hendersonville office: (828) 435-7310 · edwards.house.gov/contact

North Carolina

Raleigh. Fewer constituents per seat, which means your call counts for more.

Tim Moffitt — State Senator (R), District 48

Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties

(919) 733-5745 · timothy.moffitt@ncleg.gov

Jake Johnson — State Representative (R), District 113

Henderson, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford counties

(919) 715-4466 · Jake.Johnson@ncleg.gov

Polk County

Commission meetings are public, and showing up in person still works best here. The county does not publish individual commissioner emails — the Clerk to the Board reaches all five.

Board of Commissioners — (828) 894-3301

Myron Yoder, Chairman

David Moore, Vice-Chairman

Paul Beiler, Commissioner

Tommy Melton, Commissioner

Jennifer Hargett, Commissioner

Kennedy Freeman — Clerk to the Board

Reaches all five commissioners

(828) 894-3301 ext. 239 · kfreeman@polknc.gov

Columbus, Tryon and Saluda

All three towns have races on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Municipal offices are nonpartisan.

Town of Columbus — 95 Walker Street

Mayor Patrick McCool

Council: Becky Kennedy, Richard Hall, Mark Phillips, Brent Jackson

Council meets the 3rd Thursday at 5:15pm

(828) 894-8236 · mayorandcouncil@columbusnc.com

Town of Tryon — 301 North Trade Street

Mayor J. Alan Peoples

Commissioners: Skip Crowe, Bill Crowell, Tracie Greenway Morris, Julie Lambakis

Board meets the 3rd Tuesday at 7pm

(828) 859-6655 · tryon-nc.com/town-contact-information

City of Saluda — 6 East Main Street

Mayor Tangie Morgan

Commissioners: Stan Walker, Melanie Talbot, Paul Marion, Mark Oxtoby

(828) 749-2581 · cityclerk@cityofsaludanc.com

Not sure what to say?

"Hello, my name is ______ and I'm a constituent in Polk County. I'm calling to ask that ______. I'd like a response in writing. Thank you."

If something goes wrong at the polls

Call the Polk County Board of Elections at (828) 894-8181 or email polkboe@polknc.gov. Director of Elections Cliff Marr can also be reached at cmarr@polknc.gov. The office is at 231 Ward Street in Columbus, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What we are working on right now

Election Protection training. We run sessions on how to spot and respond to problems at the polls, so that on Election Day there are trained people in the room. Upcoming sessions are on the Events page, and recordings and slides from past sessions go out to everyone who signs up.

Poster and sign making. We gather to make signs for marches and public events. Supplies are provided and no art skills are required. These are some of the easiest gatherings to bring a friend to for the first time.

Marches and public events. Announced on the Events page and on Mobilize, where you can RSVP.

Want to help with any of this? Start with the Contact page, or simply come to an event and find one of us there. Nobody gets handed a clipboard on their first night unless they ask for one.