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Below are answers to frequently asked questions about voting in North Carolina.

All answers are from the North Carolina Board of Elections and do not represent the views of the Alpha Epsilon Omega Alumni Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. (a.k.a. Triangle Iotas), or any entity thereof. When applicable, answers are further supported by links to news articles and government websites.

This page is part of the Triangle Iotas’ Time To Build initiative, which aims to enhance black communities in the Triangle through impactful and measurable community efforts.

This ambitious effort includes our Voter Education Series, an initiative to increase voter literacy among underrepresented communities.

 
 

Coronavirus

I’m worried about coronavirus. Can I vote by mail?

 

Yes. Any North Carolina registered voter can vote absentee by-mail for any reason. North Carolina voters who are active-duty military or their dependents, and U.S. citizens who are overseas, may vote using other absentee ballot options.

To receive a mail-in absentee ballot, you or your near relative (spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild) or legal guardian, or any member of a multi-partisan assistance team (MAT) authorized to assist voters, must first use the State Absentee Ballot Request Form to request the ballot. For the November 2020 general election, this request must be made by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Completed State Absentee Ballot Request Forms may be emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered to your county board of elections by one of the following: 

  • You.

  • Your near relative or verifiable legal guardian.

  • A member of a multi-partisan assistance team (MAT). 

Forms delivered by any other person will not be processed.

Completed absentee ballot request forms may also be delivered by mail through the U.S. Postal Service or designated delivery service authorized pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7502(f).

A signed and completed State Absentee Ballot Request Form must be received by your county’s board of elections office no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the date of the election for which the ballot is being requested. 

Requests received after the absentee request deadline will not be considered on time, regardless of any postmark date.

Request forms delivered by the deadline to the North Carolina Board of Elections will be considered timely. In the interest of ensuring that county boards of elections are able to promptly process voters’ absentee requests, the NCBOE strongly recommend that forms be submitted to your county board of elections. 

Requests for absentee ballots are not valid if any of the following apply: 

  • The completed written request is not on the State Absentee Ballot Request Form. 

  • The completed written request is completed, partially or in whole, or signed by anyone other than the voter, the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian, or a MAT member. 

  • The written request does not contain all of the required information. 

  • The completed written request is returned to the county board by someone who is not authorized to return the request. 

I want to learn more about absentee voting in North Carolina. Where do I go?

The North Carolina Board of Elections has a page dedicated to absentee voting.

Do I need to mail back my Absentee ballot?

No. North Carolina voters can drop off their absentee ballots at any in-person voting location in their county, according to CBS News. North Carolina voters can also have their family member return their ballot.

More information on ways you can return your absentee ballot can be found on the North Carolina Board of Elections website.

Is the NCBOE doing anything in response to the Coronavirus?

The North Carolina Board of Elections has a page dedicated to coronavirus updates.

 

Pre-election day logistics

Do I qualify to vote in North Carolina?

To register to vote in North Carolina, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.

  • Live in the county of your registration, and have lived there for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election.

  • Be at least 18 years old, or will be by the date of the general election. If you’re 16 or 17, you can preregister to vote. Also, 17-year-olds can vote in a primary election if they will be 18 by the general election.

  • Not serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision. Once an individual has completed a felony sentence or been pardoned, they’re eligible to register and vote. No additional documentation is needed. The North Carolina Board of Elections has detailed information for those convicted of a crime and not sure of their voting rights.

I still need to register to vote. How can I do so?

There’s two ways to register to vote in North Carolina:

  1. If you have a North Carolina driver’s license or other identification issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, you can register to vote online. You can also update your address or party affiliation through the DMV. There is no fee for this.

  2. You can also complete a voter registration form, which you must complete, print, sign, and submit to your county board of elections office. You must submit the original form by mail or in-person if you are a new registrant. Existing registrants can also fax or email their signed form.

If your application is complete and you meet all voting qualifications, your county board of elections will mail you a voter registration card. This mailing is non-forwardable and also verifies your address. If a voter card is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, a second mailing will be sent. If the second mailing is returned as undeliverable, your voter registration will be denied.

Voter registration applications submitted less than 25 days before an election will not be processed until after the election. You may still register to vote in person using same-day registration in your county during the early voting period.

What’s the deadline to register to vote in North Carolina?

The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is 25 days before the election. Your county’s board of elections must receive your application by this date. If an application is received after the deadline, it will still be timely if it is postmarked on or before the voter registration deadline. Otherwise, the application will not be processed until after the election.

If you register through the DMV or another voter registration agency, your application will be deemed timely if it is received by the agency within 25 days before the election.

 

Voter ID

Do I need an ID to vote in North Carolina?

You DO NOT need an ID to vote in North Carolina.

A federal court blocked the ID mandate through the 2020 primaries, and the N.C. Court of Appeals extended it through the November 2020 elections.

In addition, the North Carolina Board of Elections has a page dedicated to voter ID.

 

College students

I live on campus. Can i still vote?

College students may register and vote in the county where they attend college (or in most situations, the college student could also opt to register or remain registered at the address where they lived previous to moving away for college). If a student registers at his or her school address, that registration cancels any previous registration in another county.

If a student intends to make their home in the community where they are physically present for the purpose of attending school, while the student is attending school, and does not intend to return to their former home after graduation, the student may claim the college community as the student's domicile. The student does not have to intend to stay in the college community beyond graduation in order to establish domicile there.

A student residing in a campus housing facility may prove their residency by presenting, in either hardcopy or electronic format, any document originating with the educational institution and containing the student’s name and on-campus housing address or facility name (e.g., “Jones Hall”). Acceptable documents may be issued by either public or private educational institutions and include correspondence, invoice, transcript, or a print-out or screen shot from any official registration or housing portal displaying the student’s name and on-campus housing address.

Alternatively, the educational institution may voluntarily provide elections officials with a list of all students residing in a particular campus housing facility, which may be referenced in conjunction with a valid student photo identification card presented by the registrant. Any such list must be current at the time of use and must display individual facility information for each on-campus resident to ensure the student is properly registered at the appropriate address. Lists may not be used if they do not differentiate between residents at different campus housing facilities.

Educational institutions may omit the names of individuals known to be ineligible based on citizenship status (e.g., exchange students holding student visas). The roster may be used as proof of a student’s on-campus residency only if the registrant presents a valid student photo identification card showing the student’s current name as it appears on the registration roster.

 

Election Day logistics

I missed the registration deadline. Can I same-day register?

Yes. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility to vote and must provide proof of residence. A voter attests to their eligibility by completing a voter registration application, signing it under penalty of a Class I felony, and must present ONE of the following documents showing the voter’s current name and current address:

  • North Carolina driver’s license.

  • Other photo identification issued by a government agency. Any government-issued photo identification card is acceptable, as long as the card includes the registrant’s current name and address. Such cards may be expired, but the name and address must be current.

  • A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing the voter’s current name and address issued within three months of the date it is presented.

  • A current college/university photo identification card paired with either (1) any document originating with the educational institution and containing the student’s name and on-campus housing address or facility name; or (2) a current roster prepared by the college/university and transmitted to the county board of elections office, which lists all students residing in campus housing facilities.

Do I need my voter registration card to vote?

No. A voter registration card simply confirms you are registered and provides specific details such as your polling place. If you need a replacement card, contact your county board of elections office and ask for a new card to be mailed to you.

Where do I vote?

You can find your polling location on your voter registration card or on the North Carolina Board of Elections’ Voter Search page.

I believe my voting rights were violated. What do I do?

The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has an online form and a toll-free number for you to report any violations of your voting rights.

In addition, you can contact the North Carolina Board of Elections or your county board of elections.