How to vote in my state
North Carolina
Last updated January 26, 2023
Upcoming Election Dates and Registration Deadlines
September 12, 2023
North Carolina Primary Election in some municipalities
Voter Registration Deadline
- Postmarked: August 18, 2023
- In-person request by: August 18, 2023
- Online request by: August 18, 2023
Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Request Deadline
- Received by: September 5, 2023
Completed Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Return Deadline
- Post received: September 12, 2023
- In-person received: September 12, 2023
Early Voting: August 24, 2023 – September 9, 2023
October 10, 2023
North Carolina Election in some municipalities
Voter Registration Deadline
- Postmarked: September 15, 2023
- In-person request by: September 15, 2023
- Online request by: September 15, 2023
Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Request Deadline
- Received by: October 3, 2023
Completed Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Return Deadline
- Post received: October 10, 2023
- In-person received: October 10, 2023
Early Voting: September 21, 2023 – October 7, 2023
November 7, 2023
North Carolina General Election
Voter Registration Deadline
- Postmarked: October 13, 2023
- In-person request by: October 13, 2023
- Online request by: October 13, 2023
Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Request Deadline
- Received by: October 31, 2023
Completed Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Return Deadline
- Post received: November 7, 2023
- In-person received: November 7, 2023
Early Voting: October 19, 2023 – November 4, 2023
Helpful Resources
Register
to vote
Check if you are registered
What's on your
ballot
Absentee (Mail-in) Voting
You do not need a reason or excuse to vote absentee in North Carolina, any voter is eligible to vote absentee and by mail. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:
- Online with “Option 1 – Request an Absentee Ballot” at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
- On paper with the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (fillable PDF) or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (fillable PDF).
Your county board of elections must receive your request by 5 PM the Tuesday before Election Day, and completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 3 days after the election. If you want to return your completed ballot in person, it must be received 5 PM the day before Election Day.
See details of absentee voting and download the application here
Early Voting
Early voting begins on October 20th and ends 3pm on November 5th. Your early voting site may be at your county board of elections or at another site, please check your voting location. Exact times and dates depend on your county.
See details of early voting here
In-Language Material
APIAVote sent translated mailers to over 1 million AAPI households in order to inform them on how, where and when to vote, in their preferred language. Click the link below to see the mailer sent to North Carolina:
What to Expect
on Election Day
On Election Day, polls are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM EST.
Voter ID Requirements
Currently no photo ID is required to vote. A court ruling has repealed North Carolina’s voter ID law.
The exception is for first-time voters who did not provide a North Carolina driver’s license number or the last four digits of the Social Security number at the time of voter registration must show identification when you vote.
Language Access
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain jurisdictions to provide in-language voting materials in areas with a significant number of limited English proficient voters.
Section 208
Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act states that, “Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of the employer or office or agent of the voter’s union.”
It is your right to bring your own interpreter to the polls, if you so choose.
Have questions or need help voting?
Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683).
Bilingual assistance is available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali. Click here for more information.
