Election season is upon us, North Carolina, and before you can cast a ballot in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, you must first register to vote.
To qualify, you must (1) be a US citizen; (2) live in the county where you are registering, and have lived there for at least 30 days before Election Day; and (3) be at least 18 years old by Nov. 5, the date of the general election.
Here’s what else you need to know.
THE BASICS
North Carolina’s general election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. You can vote in the general election even if you skipped the primary.
MUST-KNOW DATES
October 11, 2024: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)
October 17, 2024: First day of early in-person voting
October 29, 2024: Last day to request absentee ballot
November 2, 2024: Last day of in–person early voting
November 5, 2024: Last day to return absentee ballot (by 7:30 p.m.)
CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS:
Visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections to look up your registration status. You can search by general info like name, birth date, and county. Vote.org also offers a 30-second search feature to confirm your registration status if you’re in a hurry.
HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE:
Not yet registered or need to update your existing registration? You’ve got time, but make sure to review the detailed deadline info below.
- Online or in-person with ID: If you have a valid North Carolina driver’s license or state ID, you can register online by visiting the North Carolina DMV website or visit your local DMV office to fill out your forms in person.
- Without ID: If you don’t have a North Carolina driver’s license or state ID, you are still eligible to vote with your Social Security number, you’re a US citizen, you’ve lived in your county of residence for at least 30 days prior to the election, you’ll be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and you are not currently serving a felony sentence or on probation/parole. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must check a box attesting that you don’t have one.
- With or without ID, register to vote by mail by completing a voter registration form. Print the registration form in Spanish or English from this page, complete it, and mail it to your County Board of Elections. Find your local County Board here.
WHEN TO REGISTER TO VOTE:
The voter registration deadline for all forms (online, in-person, or by mail) is 25 days prior to an election. For the 2024 general election, this is Friday, October 11, 2024.
If you miss the registration deadline, you may be eligible for same-day voter registration by partaking in in-person early voting (details below). You must meet all standard voter registration requirements to qualify for same-day registration.
DON’T FORGET
When Election Day comes, you do have to present a photo ID in order to cast your ballot (and if you’re voting by mail, you’ll have to include a photocopy of an acceptable ID). So now’s as good a time as any to make sure you’ve got what you need.
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