Are you planning on voting, but have some questions about the process? We've put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions to help you get in and out of your polling place without trouble.

How to vote in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I register or check my voter registration status?

REGISTER TO VOTE: The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has a website where you can register to vote online. You can access it by clicking here.

You can also download a voter registration application from the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, or by clicking here. Make sure you sign it before you send it.

Individuals who are not registered to vote in a county may register at early voting sites during the early voting period. After registering, the newly registered voter can immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.”

More information on how to register can be found here.

CHECK MY REGISTRATION STATUS: Head to the N.C. State Board of Elections website's Voter Search Tool. It will tell you what your status is and where you are registered to vote.

What’s the deadline to register before an election?

Oct. 9, 2020, is the regular voter registration deadline for the 2020 general election. For more information, visit the NCSBE's Voter Registration Deadlines page.

Would-be voters may same-day register and vote in person during the one-stop early voting period (Oct. 15–31, 2020). For more information, see Vote Early in Person: Same-Day Registration.

If you don’t know if you are registered to vote, or if your registration is valid, be sure to check your status with the NCSBE's voter search tool.

How do I find where I go to vote?

You can find your voting precinct location by going to the NCSBE website and searching your address. To locate your polling place, head to the N.C. Board of Elections website.  

What if I need to update my voter registration information?

According to the NCSBE website, the change notification for any voter information, including name, address, and party affiliation, must be signed and sent to the appropriate county board of elections by the voter registration deadline (25 days before each election).

More information on voter registration updates can be found here.

How can I get an absentee ballot and when is it due?

The deadline for requesting mail-in ballots (AKA absentee ballots) is 5 p.m. on October 27. Anyone wishing to obtain an absentee ballot can do so by clicking here.

Polling places will only accept absentee ballots during the early voting period, which is October 15-31. The deadline to submit your absentee ballot, according to the NCSBE website, is as follows:

For civilian absentee voters, the container-return envelope with the voted ballot enclosed must be returned to the county board of elections no later than 5 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots received after 5 p.m. on Election Day will be counted only if they are postmarked on or before Election Day and received by mail no later than 5 p.m. November 6. Ballots without a postmark must be received by Election Day.

How does early voting work?

In 2020, the in-person early voting period begins Thursday, October 15, and ends Saturday, October 31. During early voting, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. This is different from Election Day when registered voters must vote at their assigned precinct. More information can be found on the N.C. Board of Elections website.

You can also find your nearest one-stop voting site by using the search tool here.

When is Election Day?

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

What kind of identification do I need to bring?

Voters in North Carolina are not required to show ID for elections in 2020.

What COVID-19 safeguards will be in place when I vote?

Significant precautions will be made to protect voters and election workers against the transmission of COVID-19. These include:

  • Enforcing social distancing at polling places and early voting sites
  • Providing hand sanitizer and masks for voters and election workers who do not bring their own
  • Providing gloves and face shields for election workers
  • Erecting barriers between election workers and voters at check-in tables
  • Providing single-use pens in counties that use hand-marked paper ballots and Q-tips for voters who use ballot-marking devices
  • Frequently cleaning surfaces and equipment in polling places and early voting sites
  • Recruiting poll workers who are less vulnerable to the virus

For more information on how COVID-19 may impact your voting experience, visit the NCSBE's Voting and Coronavirus page.

What is a provisional ballot?

If there is a question about your voter eligibility, such as not having valid identification, you may be asked to vote with a provisional ballot. This allows you time to either prove your eligibility yourself, or allows the local election canvassing board to verify your eligibility. More information can be found here.

Where can I find a list of candidates on this election's ballot?

A full county-by-county breakdown of candidates, including local, state, and federal, appearing on this year's ballot can be found here.