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North Carolina voter guide

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in North Carolina:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in North Carolina, each applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which they are registering to vote for at least 30 days before the election, be at least 16 years old at the time of application and at least 18 years old by the time of the subsequent general election, and not be serving a felony sentence, including probation and parole [1][2] The North Carolina voter registration application is available online.

Voter registration applications can be completed online or submitted to the appropriate county board of elections. Applications must be submitted at least 25 days before the election, but voters can also register and vote on the same day during the early voting period, but not on Election Day.[3]

Voter registration services are also provided by the following agencies:[4]

  • Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Division of Services for the Blind
  • Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
  • Division of Health Benefits
  • Division of Child and Family Well-Being/WIC
  • Division of Social Services
  • Division of Rehabilitation Services
  • Division of Employment Security (DES)
  • Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities


In-person voting

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In North Carolina, polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Any voter who is standing in line at the time polls close must be permitted to vote.[5]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

North Carolina requires voters to present photo ID when voting.[6]

Note: According to the Board of Elections website, "On April 28, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed an injunction against implementation of photo ID legislation. As a result, photo ID laws enacted in 2018 and 2019 will be implemented moving forward, starting with the municipal elections in September, October, and November 2023. A separate federal case challenging the same laws is pending, but no injunction against the laws exists in that case." The injunction was issued on December 16, 2022.[6]

The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of May 2024:[7]

“ Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:
  • North Carolina driver’s license
  • State ID from the NCDMV (also called “non-operator ID”)
  • Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
  • U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
  • North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (...)
  • College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...)
  • State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (...)

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

  • Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government
  • Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government
  • ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.)[8]
 ”

For a list of acceptable student and public employee IDs, click here.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

North Carolina permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Carolina. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[9]

An absentee ballot request form must either be submitted online or by mail before 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. Completed ballots must be returned either in person or by mail and received no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.[9][10]


Local election officials

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.

Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In North Carolina, people convicted of a felony temporarily lose the right to vote. This right is automatically restored upon completion of their entire sentence, including prison, parole or probation, and restitution. Although it is not necessary, people convicted of a felony in North Carolina can obtain a Certificate of Restoration of Forfeited Rights of Citizenship to present as proof of completion of their sentence when re-registering to vote. Click here for more information on restoring citizenship rights in North Carolina.[11]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[12]


Election administration agencies

Election agencies

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See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in North Carolina can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

North Carolina County Boards of Elections

Click here for a list

North Carolina State Board of Elections

Physical Address: Dobbs Building, Third Floor
430 N. Salisbury St
6400 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27603-1362
Mailing Address: PO Box 27255
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7255
Phone: 919-814-0700
Fax: 919-715-0135
Email: elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov
Website: http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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See also

Elections in North Carolina


External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Registering to Vote,” accessed October 7, 2024
  2. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Who Can Register,” accessed October 7, 2024
  3. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Register in Person During Early Voting,” accessed October 7, 2024
  4. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “National Voter Registration Act (NVRA),” accessed October 7, 2024
  5. ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 163-166.01 (2022) Hours for voting," accessed May 1, 2023
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Voter ID," accessed May 1, 2023
  7. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, “Voter ID,” accessed May 23, 2024
  8. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 North Carolina State Board of Elections, "FAQ: Voting By Mail," accessed October 7, 2024
  10. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form," accessed October 7, 2024
  11. ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Registering as a Person in the Criminal Justice System," accessed May 1, 2023
  12. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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