November 3, 2020 ballot measures in North Carolina

Elections in North Carolina, 2020

• Election date: Nov. 3
• Registration deadline(s): Oct. 9
• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Recount laws

• Early voting starts: Oct. 15
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 12 (received)
• Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
• Voter ID: No ID
• Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Voters in Guilford County decided two measures, a school bond issue and a local sales tax measure. Voters in Charlotte decided three bond issues totalling $197.2 million in proposed debt. Voters in Raleigh decided one $80 million bond issue.

In 2020, Ballotpedia covered local measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and a selection of notable police-related and election-related measures outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia also covered all local measures in California and all statewide ballot measures. Ballotpedia's 2020 local ballot measure coverage includes Durham, Greensboro, and Raleigh. Click here to see the scope of Ballotpedia local ballot measure coverage by year.

Local ballot measures, by county

Guilford County

See also: Guilford County, North Carolina ballot measures

• Guilford County, North Carolina, Local Sales and Use Tax Referendum (November 2020):  ✖

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the county to levy an additional local sales tax of 0.25%, thereby increasing the total sales tax rate in the county—state and local combined—from 6.75% to 7%.

A "no" vote opposed this measure authorizing the county to levy an additional local sales tax of 0.25%, thereby leaving the total sales tax rate in the county—state and local combined—at 6.75%.

• Guilford County, North Carolina, School Bond Referendum (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the county to issue up to $300 million in bonds for school facilities and to levy property taxes necessary to repay the debt.

A "no" vote opposed this measure to authorize the county to issue up to $300 million in bonds for school facilities.

Mecklenburg County

See also: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina ballot measures

• Charlotte, North Carolina, Housing Bonds Referendum (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to issue up to $50 million in bonds for housing projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

A "no" vote opposed this measure authorizing the city to issue up to $50 million in bonds for housing projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

• Charlotte, North Carolina, Neighborhood Improvement Bonds Referendum (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to issue up to $44.5 million in bonds for neighborhood infrastructure projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

A "no" vote opposed this measure authorizing the city to issue up to $44.5 million in bonds for neighborhood infrastructure projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

• Charlotte, North Carolina, Transportation Bonds Referendum (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to issue up to $102.732 million in bonds for transportation projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

A "no" vote opposed this measure authorizing the city to issue up to $102.732 million in bonds for transportation projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

Wake County

See also: Wake County, North Carolina ballot measures

• Raleigh, North Carolina, Housing Bonds Referendum (November 2020):  ✔

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to issue up to $80 million in bonds for housing projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

A "no" vote opposed this measure authorizing the city to issue up to $80 million in bonds for housing projects and to levy additional taxes to repay the debt.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in North Carolina.

How to cast a vote in North Carolina

The information below covers regular voting policies in the state. Information may have not applied to the election on November 3, 2020, because of temporary changes in response to coronavirus. Click here to read about changes made for the 2020 elections. Poll 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. Registration requirements 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 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. Voter registration services are also provided by the following agencies: 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 Automatic registration North Carolina does not practice automatic voter registration. Online registration See also: Online voter registration North Carolina has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration North Carolina allows same-day voter registration during the early voting period only. Residency requirements Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote for at least 30 days before the election. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States North Carolina does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who fraudulently or falsely registers is guilty of a "Class I felony under Chapter 163 of the NC General Statutes." All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The North Carolina State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website. Voter ID requirements North Carolina requires voters to present photo ID when voting. The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the North Carolina State Board of Elections page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information. “ 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.) ” For a list of acceptable student and public employee IDs, click here. County boards of elections can issue free photo IDs for voting purposes to voters who live in their county. Voters must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voters must also have their photo taken. North Carolina residents also can get a free ID card from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.

See also

• Local ballot measure elections in 2020
• Local school tax on the ballot
• Local sales tax on the ballot
• County tax on the ballot
• Local school bonds on the ballot
• County bonds on the ballot