The Sunday Five - 9/27/26
BEAUFORT COUNTY STORIES THAT MATTERED THIS WEEK
Week Ending September 27, 2026
Tomorrow at noon, Jones Street opens a three-day reconvene. Eight days later, Beaufort commissioners vote on a one-year data-center freeze. Twelve days to registration. Eighteen to early-voting doors. Three constitutional amendments and an eight-year Supreme Court seat sit on every Beaufort ballot - and a new poll just tightened that Court race.
Here are the Sunday Five.
Eight days to Beaufort's data-center hearing. Then a vote.
Monday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m., Beaufort County commissioners hold the final public hearing on a proposed one-year moratorium on accepting, processing, and approving data-center applications - then discuss and vote. Place: 136 W. Second Street, Washington.
Sept. 14 was informal comments only. The county postponed the formal hearing and vote from that meeting. WITN: residents flagged noise, emissions, electricity costs, and farmland. Officials said no company has approached Beaufort. State statute caps a moratorium at twelve months. As of Sunday morning research, no Oct. 5 agenda packet was posted. Demand the engineering numbers - water, power, rates - in the room. This is infrastructure and your local leaders should be educating the public, not fearmongering.
Why it matters: Beaufort's next hard local governance clock. Show up with receipts, not slogans.
Sources: Beaufort County NewsFlash / EIN notice (Sept. 13); WITN Sept. 14–15; AgendaCenter (Oct. 5 packet not posted as of 9/27).
Tomorrow noon: Jones Street reconvenes. Election law is on the table.
Under Resolution 2026-6 (SJR 1091), the House and Senate reconvene Monday, Sept. 28, at 12:00 noon through Wednesday, Sept. 30. The legislative calendar lists both chambers at noon.
The short window allows veto overrides; appointments; litigation related to enactments; election laws and districts; impeachment; constitutional amendment proposals; and certain conference and concurrence bills. One vetoed measure available under that framework is House Bill 958 - Stein's Aug. 17 veto of a package that shortens primary early voting, expands post-election ballot challenges, and directs auditor reviews of county election administration. Override takes three-fifths present and voting in each chamber. Chamber calendars decide what gets a vote.
Why it matters: Beaufort's Board of Elections lives under the rules Raleigh writes. A three-day window that can move election law is not a quiet calendar line.
Sources: Res. 2026-6 / SJR 1091; ncleg.gov legislative calendar; Governor Stein HB 958 veto release Aug. 17.
Twelve days to registration. Eighteen to early-voting doors.
NCSBE hard dates for Nov. 3: registration closes Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. (G.S. 163-82.6). Early voting runs Thursday, Oct. 15 through 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Absentee has been mailing since Sept. 4; request deadline Oct. 20 at 5 p.m.; completed ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. Election Day - postmarks do not count.
Beaufort's map is posted. Full-time: Board of Elections, 1308 Highland Drive, Suite 104, Washington; and Chocowinity Fire Department, 512 NC Hwy 33 E. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sat. Oct. 31 ends at 3 p.m. Part-time last week only: Aurora Community Center, 442 3rd Street (Oct. 28–31); John A. Wilkinson Center, Belhaven, 144 W. Main Street (Oct. 28–31).
Why it matters: Washington and Chocowinity carry the full window. Aurora and Belhaven get four days. Know which door is yours.
Sources: NCSBE upcoming-election calendar; Beaufort BOE early-voting announcement; G.S. 163-82.6.
Three constitutional amendments. Every Beaufort ballot.
The Legislative Services Officer's official summaries (G.S. 147-54.10) are posted through Beaufort BOE. Three Nov. 3 questions:
Require Photo ID for All Voters (SL 2024-58) - photo ID in all instances, not only in-person.
Lower Taxes for All NC (SL 2026-4) - lower the state income-tax maximum from 7% to 3.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Property Tax Levy Limit (SL 2026-5) - require the General Assembly to set limits on local property-tax increases.
Why it matters: These rewrite voting rules, the income-tax ceiling, and local levy authority. They sit on the same Beaufort ballot as sheriff, commissioners, school board, and the courts.
Sources: Beaufort BOE Official Explanation; LSO Summary Aug. 20, 2026; SL 2024-58; SL 2026-4; SL 2026-5.
Earls–Stevens just tightened. Eight years either way.
High Point University Poll 127 (released Sept. 24; fielded Sept. 6–16) has Justice Anita Earls (D) at 46% and Sarah Stevens (R) at 44% among likely voters for Supreme Court Seat 1 - 3% another, 8% unsure. Credibility interval ±3.9 points (n=706 LVs). Inside that interval, this sample is a toss-up.
Carolina Journal's Harper poll (Sept. 13–15) had Earls ahead 47.2%–36.4% - the gap in last week's Sunday Five. Two September polls now disagree on the size of the lead. A Stevens win would expand the court's 5–2 Republican majority to 6–1; it would not flip control. Every Beaufort ballot carries this eight-year seat - plus three Court of Appeals contests.
Why it matters: The Senate race gets the cable time. The Court seat sits for eight years on maps, voter ID, and appointment fights after Election Day. Eastern NC does not get a separate Court. Sources: HPU Poll 127 Sept. 24, 2026; Carolina Journal Sept. 17 (contrast); NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide 2026.
The Bottom Line
Five clocks for Beaufort: a data-center vote in eight days, a legislature that opens tomorrow, registration in twelve, three constitutional amendments on the same ballot, and a Supreme Court seat that just tightened in the latest poll.
We'll keep watching what matters, not just what's loud.
North Carolina politics. Elections. Candidates. The stories behind the headlines.
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