Voting in North Carolina has been in the national headlines recently as the state became the first to send out mail-in ballots for the General Election. As the first ballots were being sent out, President Donald Trump suggested voters in the state should cast ballots twice, by mail and in person, which is illegal.

There is plenty of confusion about voting without holding an election during a pandemic, so here are the details about voting in North Carolina. And please don’t vote twice: it is, in fact, a felony.

Do I need an ID to vote?  No. Last year a federal judge ruled that voters in North Carolina will not have to show identification to vote in 2020.  

Where and when can I vote early?  Voters can cast their ballots in person at any early in-person voting location in their county. You can look up early polling locations on the state Board of Elections website. For 2020, the in-person early voting period runs from Thursday, Oct. 15 through Saturday, Oct. 31.

Can I register and vote on the same day?  Yes, people can register and vote on the same day during the early voting period. To register and vote on the same day, a voter must bring one of these documents showing their name and address: a government-issued ID, a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document showing name and address, or a college or university ID with proof of living on campus.

How can I tell if my ballot was counted?  If you voted by mail, you can track your ballot using the state’s new BallotTrax tool to see if your ballot was received. You can check your voter profile with the North Carolina Board of Elections to confirm that your ballot was accepted.

What if I want to vote on Election Day?  You can find your polling place by looking up your voter profile. Polls will be open Nov. 3 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you are in line to cast your ballot by 7:30 p.m., state law says you must be allowed to cast your vote.

Who can vote by mail?  Any registered voter can request a ballot to vote by mail. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 27.

How can I sign up?  You can sign up online through the state Board of Elections’ new absentee ballot portal or submit an absentee ballot form to your county board of elections by mail, email, fax or drop it off. The absentee ballot form is available on the state board’s website or you can pick one up at a county elections office.

Do I need a witness?  You must have one witness to certify that you filled out the ballot yourself. “A witness should not observe so closely that they are able to see what votes the voter marked. What is required is that the witness sees the that the voter is voting the ballot,” according to the state board. A witness can certify your ballot from six feet away, wear a mask, and take other coronavirus precautions like using separate pens if you are concerned about contracting the virus.

How do I submit my ballot?  There are five ways you can submit your ballot. You can mail it in to your county board of elections or send it by UPS, FedEx or DHL, as long as it’s postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. You can also drop off your ballot at any early voting site during voting hours or at the county elections office by 5 p.m. on Election Day.

What if I change my mind and want to vote in person?  If you change your mind about voting by mail, even if you already requested or received a ballot, you can decide not to submit the absentee ballot and still go vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. You cannot vote in person after your county board of elections accepts your mail-in ballot.

Can I track my ballot?  A new ballot tracking portal is now online so people can track their mail-in ballots. The state voter profile page will update when county elections officials accept the ballot.

Can I vote by mail and in person?  If you submit a mail-in ballot that is accepted by your county board of elections, you cannot vote in person. You could be charged with a felony for voting twice. There are safeguards to make sure people cannot vote twice. “On Election Day, voters who have voted absentee are removed from the pollbook, which is updated before voting starts at 6:30 a.m.  Absentee ballots that are received on Election Day are not counted until after the election, and this prevents double voting,” state election officials say.