VOTER INFORMATION
IMPORTANT DATES:
October 15 – October 31: Early Voting
October 27: Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot
The State Board strongly recommends voters request a ballot as soon as possible to avoid problems due to postal delays and to allow for time to request any possible issues with your request.
The envelope may be mailed or delivered in person to the county board of elections office or an open early voting site during the early voting period.
November 3: General Election/Deadline to Return Completed Absentee Ballot
QUALIFICATIONS:
To register to vote in North Carolina, you must meet the following qualifications:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Live in the county of his/her registration, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election;
- Be at least 18 years old, or will be by the date of the general election. 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote.
- 17-year-olds may vote in a primary election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election; and
- Not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision. Once an individual has completed a felony sentence or been pardoned, he/she is eligible to register and vote. No additional documentation is needed. For more information on voting rights for those in the North Carolina criminal justice system, click here.
REGISTERING TO VOTE:
North Carolina residents may use this form to register to vote or to update their name, address or party affiliation. Mail the signed form to your county board of elections office. Click here to find the mailing address of your county board of elections office. DMV customers may register to vote or update their registrations (except name change) online.
To register to vote or update your current voter registration:
- Complete a voter registration form.
- Print the form.
- Sign the form (ink to paper). You must submit the original form by mail or in-person if you are a new registrant. If you are an existing registrant in the county, you may also fax or email the signed form.
- Mail the form to your county board of elections.
If you move during a time close to an election, the following rules apply:
If you moved more than 30 days prior to the election, you must update your registration with your new address (or if applicable, register to vote in your new county of residence) no later than 25 days prior to the election, or use same-day registration to update your address. If you don’t update your voter registration by Election Day, you may still vote at your new polling location, as long as your move is within the same county. Since your move was unreported, you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot. You may also vote provisionally at your old polling place but you may not receive a ballot with all the contests you are eligible to vote in. You can also vote at a central transfer precinct; contact your county board of elections for more information about this option.
If you have moved fewer than 30 days prior to the election, you must vote in your prior polling place.
HOW TO VOTE:
REMEMBER PHOTO ID IS NOT REQUIRED
Any person registered to vote in North Carolina and seeking to vote in an election has several options. A voter may use of any of the following methods to cast a ballot:
- A voter may vote absentee-by-mail. This entails requesting a ballot from their county board of elections (download the State Absentee Ballot Request Form), receiving and voting the ballot, and then mailing it back by a certain deadline. For more information on absentee-by-mail voting procedures and deadlines, visit our absentee voting page.
- A voter may vote in-person during the one-stop absentee (early) voting period. This entails presenting at any early voting location in your county of residence, and casting a ballot in person. For more information on early voting procedures and times, visit our one-stop voting page.
- A voter may vote in-person on Election Day. This entails presenting at your specific precinct polling place and casting your vote on Election Day. Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
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