Election Day in July? We Know It’s Weird, But Here Are Some Last-Minute Tips for Voting Today.

15 counties have important local elections today. Here’s a guide on how to find your polling site and whether you need an ID to vote. (No you do not.)

Today is Election Day for North Carolinians in 15 counties. Local elections don’t have the same prestige as presidential races, especially summer elections, but that doesn’t mean they are unimportant. 

Quite the opposite. 

Today’s vote is for school board members, mayors, city council members, sheriffs and lots more. These officials make many crucial decisions that affect our lives, including whether identity-affirming books are banned from school libraries, how much property tax you’ll pay, and where that money is spent. 

Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., but as long as you’re in line by 7:30 p.m. you’ll be able to vote. 

And remember, you do not have to show a photo ID to vote. 

Here are some other last minute tips and resources from the North Carolina Board of Elections:

• You can find your sample ballots and polling place through the voter search tool, here, and the site search here. 
• North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day, unless they were granted US citizenship after the voter registration deadline or likewise had their voting rights restored following a felony conviction.
• If you are voting by mail and have not returned your ballot, you can’t return your ballot to a polling site on Election Day. You may mail your ballot back (it must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, July 29.) You can also return the ballot, sealed inside the completed envelope, in person to your county board of elections by 5 p.m. on Election Day. 
• “Voters who need assistance at the polls must request that assistance. Curbside voting is available for voters who are unable to enter the voting place without assistance due to age or disability. Once inside the polling place, voters who experience difficulties should request help from an election worker,” the NCBOE says.
• Voter intimidation is a crime. “Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.”
• If your name is not on the voter list at your proper polling site, you should request a provisional ballot. Ten days after the election, you can check the status of your provisional ballot here.
• And finally, be patient. Unofficial voting results will be updated as they become available on the Election Results Dashboard.