CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Following the horns, drums and rhythmic steps of the West Charlotte High School marching band, over a dozen seniors marched to the polls to cast their ballot for the first time this Election Day.

What You Need To Know

The school, in partnership with the nonpartisan nonprofit You Can Vote, is educating students on the role they can play in democracy. 

"You'll be surprised at how many people don't think about voting until they're in college or when they're out of high school, but for these students to vote for the first time in high school is very empowering," Brandon Rivers, the regional director for You Can Vote and a Charlotte native, said.

You Can Vote has offices in the Charlotte, Triad and Triangle areas of the state. The organization has been educating people on the new voter ID law, which requires voters to show an acceptable form of ID when they show up to the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include a North Carolina driver's license, U.S. Passport, college or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections and State Board of Elections issued free voter identification cards.

Those who do not have identification can still show up to the polls and vote.

"You can vote without ID," Rivers said. "You can vote with a provisional ballot. You can also vote with a voter ID exception form."

If a voter fills out the ID Exception Form, they will have to select a "reasonable impediment" to showing photo ID. This can include a lack of transportation, disability or illness or family responsibilities. Other permitted exceptions include the the voter has a religious objection to being photographed or the voter was the victim of a natural disaster within 100 days of Election Day.

Polling sites are open Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 6:30a.m. to 7:30p.m.