How to vote in North Carolina
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 25 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 25 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 3 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
North Carolina voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 25 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 25 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 3 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your North Carolina registration using the North Carolina voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in North Carolina you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of North Carolina and the precinct in which you live for at least 30 days prior to Election Day
- be 18 years old by the General Election (you may pre-register if you are 16 years old and if you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed parole and probation
- not be registered or vote in any other county or state.
You can register to vote online if you know your Social Security Number and have a North Carolina driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
- Visit the North Carolina online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 25 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter North Carolina driver’s license number. If you don't have a driver’s license, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party to vote in that party’s primary unless that party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in its primary. If you indicate a political party that is not a qualified party, or indicate no party, you will be listed as “Unaffiliated”.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: You are required to fill in this box. However, your application will not be rejected if you fail to do so.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 25 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your North Carolina driver's license or any photo ID issued by a government agency that contains your name and address. If you don't have one, bring an acceptable document with your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a student photo ID (must be paired with a proof of campus habitation), recent utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.
- Summary: North Carolina has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your North Carolina driver's license or any photo ID issued by a government agency that contains your name and address. If you don't have one, bring an acceptable document with your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a student photo ID (must be paired with a proof of campus habitation), recent utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored after parole or probation, as long as you pay all relevant fees and fines.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
North Carolina absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered North Carolina voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the North Carolina absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 7 days before Election Day.
- Download the North Carolina absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include your North Carolina driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: North Carolina absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- Your ballot will be rejected if it doesn't include a witness signature, or if your witness did not clearly print their name and address.
- You must make corrections by 5:00 pm on the 9th day after Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You may request an emergency absentee ballot starting on 5PM the Tuesday before the election if you ill or otherwise unable to vote in person on election day. The request must be received before 5PM 1 day before Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 5PM 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is 5PM Election Day
Contact your local election office
North Carolina early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 20 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
Most North Carolina voters do not need to show ID. First time NC voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of North Carolina (any state if within 90 days of Election Day) or the Federal Government, a student ID issued by an approved North Carolina college or university, or a tribal ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Your ID must be un-expired, unless it expired within one year or you are over the age of 65.
North Carolina voter ID guide
Most North Carolina voters do not need to show ID. First time NC voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of North Carolina (any state if within 90 days of Election Day) or the Federal Government, a student ID issued by an approved North Carolina college or university, or a tribal ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Your ID must be un-expired, unless it expired within one year or you are over the age of 65.
You must include your North Carolina driver's license number, state ID number, or the last 4 digits of your social security number on your absentee ballot application. The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you know your Social Security Number and have a North Carolina driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
Bring your North Carolina driver's license or any photo ID issued by a government agency that contains your name and address. If you don't have one, bring an acceptable document with your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a student photo ID (must be paired with a proof of campus habitation), recent utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for North Carolina elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
State Board of Elections P.O. Box 27255 Raleigh, NC 27611‐7255
External resources
References
- North Carolina early voting information
- North Carolina absentee ballot information
- North Carolina voter registration information
- North Carolina voter ID information
- North Carolina student voter information
- North Carolina voting rights restoration for voters with felony convictions
- North Carolina election code