Nov. 4. Denis Bilodeau has been elected the next mayor of Cornelius, defeating incumbent Woody Washam 44% to 36%. Bilodeau received 3,181 votes to Washam’s 2,673.

Commissioners Michael Osborne, Susan Johnson, Todd Sansbury and Robert Carney were all re-elected, while Colin Furcht regained the seat he lost in the last election. Osborne will be named mayor pro tem as the top vote-getter.

In the race for the CMS Board of Education, challenger Charlitta Hatch won the District 1 seat.

Voters also approved the countywide sales tax measure by a margin of 53% to 47%, a difference of roughly 8,000 votes.

Mayor

NAME ON BALLOT	PARTY	BALLOT COUNT	PERCENT
Denis P. Bilodeau	N/A	3,181	43.79%
Woody Washam, Jr.	N/A	2,673	36.79%
Kenny Campbell	N/A	1,391	19.15%

Commissioners

NAME ON BALLOT	PARTY	BALLOT COUNT	PERCENT
Michael D. Osborne	N/A	4,999	18.16%
Susan Johnson	N/A	4,883	17.74%
Todd Sansbury	N/A	4,736	17.20%
Robert Carney	N/A	4,569	16.60%
Colin J. Furcht	N/A	4,326	15.72%
Michael DeVoney	N/A	3,669	13.33%

CMS School Board District 1

NAME ON BALLOT	PARTY	BALLOT COUNT	PERCENT
Charlitta Hatch	N/A	15,579	44.83%
Bill Fountain	N/A	10,128	29.14%
Melissa Easley	N/A	8,901	25.61%

Sales tax referendum 

NAME ON BALLOT	PARTY	BALLOT COUNT	PERCENT
For	N/A	92,251	52.13%
Against	N/A	84,716	47.87%

Unofficial numbers reported by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.

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Catch up on everything you missed during today’s live coverage

7:30 p.m. Polls are officially closed. On the municipal level, we hope to have final results tonight in the elections for Mayor of Cornelius and Board of Commissioners of Cornelius. On the county level, we’re covering the District 1 seat for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and the sales tax referendum.

Early voting results are expected soon but it will be at least an hour or more until today’s precinct reports start rolling in. From there it’s anyone’s guess on timing.

All updates will be posted here and an e-blast will be sent to our newsletter subscribers as soon as we know the final results. Click here to subscribe and receive the alerts.

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7:12 p.m. A campaign is a family affair so special shout out to the spouses and other family members who worked the polls for their candidates today. Among those we encountered … Sharon Washam and Chantal Bilodeau were the most active campaigners from open to close at Town Hall. Erika Carney and Kelly Osborne spoke with voters from early in the morning to late in the day. Michael Osborne’s father even took a few shifts throughout the day.

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6:50 p.m. Candidates are greeting the final voters of the night as the clock winds down to 7:30 p.m. when polls officially close. There are two post-election gatherings being held at local watering holes where candidates plan to gather to wait for results to begin rolling in. The first group of numbers – early voters – should be posted as soon as polls close, with additional precinct numbers posted on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections as they become available. We’ll provide precinct reports shortly after they are made public and hope to have a final result later tonight.

If final numbers are not available late into the night we will resume coverage early tomorrow morning.

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5:56 p.m. The action is slowing down at the polls. While there is a small line at Town Hall, the other polling locations have slowed to a trickle.

One issue we’ve seen throughout the day is individuals arriving at Town Hall when they are assigned to another location. If you’re hoping to cast your vote in the final 90 minutes make sure to check your polling location here.

Google Maps shows a 16-minute travel time to Bethel and Jetton and a 21-minute drive to Community in Christ if you have to get there from downtown.

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4:45 p.m. Headed out of work to vote but also worried about dinner? Here are some takeout options near the polls courtesy of our new food correspondent Cloyd Burke.

Jetton Park: The Poutine at H2 Public House comes with french fries, spicy cheese curds and gravy poured over the top.

Town Hall: The Red Dragon and Green Devil rolls at Cool Fish. If you don’t like spicy salmon you can substitute the spicy tuna at no cost.

Bethel Church: The world is inundated with crispy chicken sandwiches but Harp & Crown’s Duffer Sandwich has a remoulade sauce that sets it apart.

Community in Christ: The Gouda Stix and Avocado Bites at Crafty Burger. On their own–tasty. Dipped in their respective BBQ ranch and boom boom sauce–tastier.

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3:56 p.m. The business of an election is certainly a serious matter and should be treated as such. However, as we pass the time during a lull in the afternoon action, here’s a look back at some entertaining moments on Election Day. Names are redacted because we’re just trying to share some lighthearted stories on an otherwise grueling day.

• One volunteer was reprimanded this morning for attempting to distribute McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches (we suspect Egg McMuffins but could not confirm). I know his intentions were not nefarious because he offered me one (I voted two weeks ago) and I politely declined because I’m not supposed to eat McDonald’s. The volunteer really just tried to unload some extra food rather than throw it away – but a no-no is a no-no on Election Day.

• One voter, after telling one candidate that she had voted for another candidate upon exiting the polls, proceeded to run over his campaign sign and balloon on her way out of the parking lot. She apologized and said it was accidental.

• Another candidate was duped into expressing his support for a certain political party, which the voter then flipped around and used to express his own newly-found disdain for said candidate.

• At a recent meeting the town unanimously passed rules banning the use of improperly registered golf carts on town roads. Well, a volunteer for one of the incumbent candidates hung a campaign sign from an illegal golf cart parked in front of one of the polling precincts.

We still have more than three hours until polls close and results aren’t expected until later in the night. We’re taking a break to recharge laptops and phones but will be back at the polls shortly to close out the day.

–as reported by Jon Show

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2:59 p.m. Early voting turnout surged at Cornelius Town Hall this year, with 4,001 ballots cast — up from 2,987 during the last non-presidential election in 2023. That’s an increase of about 34%.

The sales tax referendum appears to be the main driver behind this year’s local turnout increase.

Across Mecklenburg County, 64,651 voters cast early ballots this year, compared with 39,432 in 2023 and 28,916 in 2019 — all non-presidential election years. That represents a 64% increase from 2023 and a 123% jump from 2019.

To what degree does a presidential election impact voter turnout? Last year 19,145 voters cast early ballots at Town Hall, which is 80% higher than this year.

–as reported by Dave Vieser

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2:16 p.m. Rob Carney, Denis Bilodeau and Kenny Campbell are among candidates speaking with voters at Jetton Park. Michael Osborne has moved here from Town Hall to bring his wife some lunch and is accusing us of following him.

Voter flow here is steady but much slower overall than Town Hall and the vibe is a little more laid back.

Carney brought a bluetooth speaker that’s playing Morgan Wallen radio on Spotify.

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2:01 p.m. Overheard from one resident casting her vote at Jetton Park, “This has to be the prettiest voting location in all of Mecklenburg County.” It’s hard to disagree with that.

1:51 p.m. CMS students are out of school today and it’s great to see so many kids out there accompanying their parents to the polls to experience the right to vote.

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1:21 p.m. If your polling location is a place of worship, ever wonder why you don’t see candidates when you go to cast your vote? They aren’t ignoring you. Election laws state they aren’t allowed to be to on church grounds, which is why they only congregate outside the polls located at Town Hall and Jetton Park.

You have to wonder if it’s a disservice to voters. We talked to multiple people who voted at Bethel who knew little about the school board candidates so they didn’t cast a vote. Anyone voting at town hall or Jetton is greeted with a trove of information from volunteers.

Outside the polls at Bethel:

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12:34 p.m. The lunch rush is on but lines at all four polls are still moving quickly. Maybe a ten minute process to get in and out.

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12:14 p.m. Need some lunch ideas after you vote? At town hall we’re partial to the pepper steak at NY Restaurant and the grandma slice at Mama’s. At Jetton we’re going with the best lunch special in town – two slices and a soft drink for under $7 at Brooklyn South. At Bethel Church we’re going with one of the new toasty subs at Jimmy John’s. If you’re at Community in Christ hit Tacos El Gordo truck in the Cashion’s parking lot and try the papusas.

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11:53 a.m. Scenes from Precinct 202, Cornelius Town Hall / Photos by Jason Benavides

11:46 a.m. Scenes from Precinct 242, Jetton Park / Photos by Jason Benavides

11:37 a.m. North Carolina’s voter ID law explained …

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10:59 a.m. Commissioner candidates (left to right) Susan Johnson, Rob Carney and Colin Furcht pose with mayoral candidate Woody Washam at the Jetton polling location.

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10:32 a.m. Reminder to all selfie enthusiasts – they’re not allowed once you enter your polling location.  Outside the polling station you’re good to go but inside the polling station, or with your ballot in view, is a no-no by law.

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10:27 a.m. We received an email from an election volunteer about many voters “showing up to the wrong precinct.” Please check your voting location here.

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10:08 a.m. A group of candidates for the town board are working the polls at Jetton. Board candidates Todd Sansbury and Mike DeVoney have joined the group at town hall.

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9:55 a.m. Looking for some wakeup juice after you vote? Willow Wood Coffee and The Coffeeshop are both within walking distance of town hall. If you’re hungry, our new food correspondent Cloyd Burke recommends the Jack Wrappit or the Proscuitto Brie Fig Toast at Willow Wood (pictured below).

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9:27 a.m. A short line at town hall is starting to form inside but wait times are still only a few minutes. Lake Norman restauranteur Chris Boukedes stopped by town hall this morning to vote.

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8:58 a.m. CATS is offering free rides today on all services to polling locations. For questions contact CATS Customer Service at 704.336.7433 or download the CATS-Pass app from your mobile app provider.

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8:27 a.m. Sharon Washam and Chantal Bilodeau are among the contingent greeting voters at Town Hall. Also on site is commissioner candidate Michael Osborne. No lines inside the building. Among those getting out to vote early today was Cornelius Parks & Rec board chairman Trey Fouche (pictured below).

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7:29 a.m. Mayoral candidates Woody Washam and Denis Bilodeau are both on site at the Jetton precinct early this morning, where there’s been a slow but steady trickle of voters.

Not a bad view in your way out of the polls.

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7:15 a.m. Dress warm if you’re headed out early this morning. Current temperature is 43.

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6:30 a.m. Polls are officially open!

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5:45 a.m. Know more before you go! Click to read our full coverage of today’s candidates and their positions, as well as details about the sales tax referendum. You can also find your polling location and sample ballot here.

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5:30 a.m. – Polls open today at 6:30 a.m and will close at 7:30 p.m. The weather forecast calls for seasonable temperatures and sunny skies.

Today’s coverage is provided by Dave Vieser, Jason Benavides and Jon Show.