The November presidential election is right around corner, and so are important dates for voters.
The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is Friday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m., and voters must ensure their registration information is up-to-date and accurate before the cutoff.
Potential voters can also register during one-stop voting during the early voting period, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2. People will need to bring identification to register and vote if they head to the polls before Election Day.
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There's a full ballot this year. Offices up for election include: president and vice president, governor, lieutenant governor, North Carolina's 14 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the entire General Assembly, a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court and numerous local races.
Election Dates and Deadlines
The following are your need-to-know dates concerning the upcoming election from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
- The 2024 general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
- In-person early voting begins on Oct. 17. Same-day registration is also available.
- The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 29. At 5 p.m.
- In-person early voting ends on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.
- The General Election Day is Nov. 5.
- The absentee ballot return deadline is Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Voter Registration
There are several ways N.C. residents can register to vote this year.
People can mail in their voter registration applications. The board of elections must receive your application 20 days before the election. This application updates your name, address and party affiliation.
Applications must have an identification number on them. This could be a DMV-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Community members can visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website to learn how to mail in their voter registration application.
North Carolina residents can also register online to vote through the DMV.
Once the application is complete and all requirements are met to vote, voters should receive their voter registration card in the mail within two weeks.
Early Voting
One-stop voting begins Thursday, Oct. 17, and ends Saturday, Nov. 2. Visit the Early Voting Site Search to find voting sites and schedules in your county.
North Carolina voters must have a photo ID when they check in to vote at the voting site. Those who haven’t registered to vote can also register and cast a ballot on the same day. This is called “same-day registration.” Same-day registration is not available on Election Day.
Voters can see who is on their ballots and get a sample ballot on the State Board of Election's Voter Search website.
North Carolina voters with absentee ballots can mail them to their county board of elections office or take them to an early voting site during the early voting period. Mail-in ballots will be secure and delivered to the county board of elections for processing, according to the state board.
Curbside voting is available for those who qualify for assistance. Visit the Help for Voters with Disabilities to learn more.
Early votes are considered absentee votes. Look for the “Your Absentee Ballot” section in the Voter Search database to learn if your vote was counted. Your ballot status will be seen under “Voter History.” It may take a few weeks to check your ballot status because your county needs time to finish the post-election process of updating your voter history.