IMPORTANT DEADLINES
General Election Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Early Voting Begins: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Early Voting Ends: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline to Vote on Election Day: Friday, October 11th by 5PM
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 by 5PM
Absentee Ballot Return Deadline: Absentee Ballots must be received by county Board of Elections by Tuesday, November 5, 2024 by 7:30PM
VOTER ID
Voters must present a photo ID to vote in North Carolina, but there are some exceptions. Find more information here.
Read our Labor 2024 handout about Voter ID:
GET HELP VOTING
Election Protection Hotline: 1-888-OUR-VOTE
Democracy North Carolina owns and operates the state’s premier nonpartisan voter hotline: 888-OUR-VOTE (888-687-8683). The hotline is available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the year. Callers may ask questions about how to register to vote and cast a ballot in North Carolina or report voting problems.
NC VOTER LOOKUP
Are you sure you're registered to vote? Do you really know where your polling location is?
Use this tool provided by the NC State Board of Elections to search for voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place, sample ballot when available, absentee ballot information, and voter history.
HOW TO VOTE IN NC
There are 3 ways to vote in North Carolina:
- Vote by Mail (Absentee Voting)
- Vote during Early Voting (One-Stop Voting)
- Vote on Election Day
Voting by Mail
There are 3 steps to Voting By Mail in North Carolina, and any registered voter can do it - you do NOT need a special reason:
- Submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form.
- Vote your ballot.
- Return your ballot by submitting to your county board of elections in person or by mail. Track the status of your Absentee Ballot from start to finish at northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter.
Visit votebymail.ncsbe.gov to access the North Carolina Absentee Ballot Portal.
Learn More About Voting By Mail
Voting Early
Early Voting lasts 17 days and ends on the Saturday before Election Day. By voting early, you can:
- Avoid long lines on Election Day.
- Access more flexible voting hours and locations. Lookup early voting locations in your county.
- Register or update your registration on-site. Note: On-site registration is NOT AVAILABLE on Election Day.
Voting on Election Day
Polls are open from 6:30 am – 7:30 pm. If you are in line by 7:30 pm the location has to stay open until you vote.
You must already be registered to vote.
You must vote at your assigned voting location. Look up your polling place.
If you have problems, call 888-687-8683 for assistance.
Learn More About Election Day Voting
HOW TO REGISTER
Submit a Paper Form
To register to vote the old fashioned way, you must:
- Download a voter registration form.
- Complete and sign the form.
- Mail the form to your county board of elections at least 25 days prior to Election Day.
Register Online (via DMV)
You may apply to register to vote online via the NC Department of Motor Vehicles:
- There is no fee to apply for voter registration online via the DMV.
- Updated information will only apply to your voter registration.
- Select “Continue as a guest” to bypass creating an account.
- Select "Submit a voter registration application".
- Enter your NC Driver License or DMV-issued ID Card number, your Social Security number, and your date of birth.
- If you don't have a NC license or ID card or wish to make a name change, you'll have to submit a paper form instead.
Register During Early Voting
You can register to vote or update your registration and immediately cast your ballot in one convenient stop:
- Available to any eligible voter.
- Must be done in the county where you live.
- Lookup early voting locations in your county.
Learn What Documents You’ll Need