In Greensboro, the last general election was only seven weeks ago and another election is on the horizon.

Labor Day is the traditional unofficial kickoff for the fall election season.  It certainly doesn’t mean that candidates were not out campaigning and asking for money before Labor Day, but usually it’s not until after Labor Day that the general public starts paying attention.

In Greensboro, it may take people a little longer to take note of the fall election, since the Greensboro City Council election was held Tuesday, July 26.

But whether people are ready or not, the statewide general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8.  Early voting for the election will run from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Saturday Nov. 5.  Absentee ballots will be sent out about a month before the Nov. 8 election day.

The top of the ballot is usually the deciding factor in turnout.  This year the top of the ballot is the US Senate Race between Republican 13th District Congressman Ted Budd and Democrat former Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court Cheri Beasley.

How that race shapes up will largely determine voter turnout.  If the race is perceived to be close, voter turnout will be higher than if one of the candidates appears to be running away with it.

In mid-term elections, when there is no presidential election on the ballot, the voter turnout is almost always lower than in presidential election years.

Other than the US Senate race, the only other statewide races on the ballot are for judges.  Two seats on the NC Supreme Court are up for election.  The NC Supreme Court currently has a 4-to-3 Democratic majority.  If Republicans win one of the two races for NC Supreme Court Associate Justice, the Republicans will have a majority.

All of Guilford County is currently in the 6th Congressional District and in that race Democrat 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning is being challenged by Republican Christian Castelli.

All the NC state House and state Senate seats, five of nine seats on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and the Guilford County Board of Education are up for election.

The sheriff of Guilford County and the clerk of court are also on the ballot.

Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump is running unopposed and the three candidates for District Court judge are also unopposed.