RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Voter turnout in North Carolina’s municipal elections was up this year, but still far below what we see in presidential or midterm election years. 

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, unofficial results show about one in five eligible voters (19.6%) cast ballots in this year’s municipal election. That’s an improvement from previous local cycles, but still a fraction of the more than 70% turnout for presidential elections.    

“It’s just kind of so easy to pay attention to the shiny bubble that is national politics,” said Steven Greene, a political science professor at NC State University.    

From property taxes to school funding, local races typically shape the issues closest to home, but they also draw some of the lowest turnout numbers. Gr

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