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North Carolina · How-To Guide

How do I register to vote or check my registration?

County Board of Elections (county level - each of NC's 100 counties) / NC State Board of Elections (state level - ncsbe.gov)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Confirm eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, NC resident who has lived in the county for at least 30 days before Election Day, at least 18 years old on or before the date of the general election, NOT currently serving a felony sentence (including probation, post-release supervision, or parole - see State Notes), and not currently declared mentally incompetent
  2. Choose your registration method:
  3. ONLINE: ncsbe.gov or voterinfocheck.ncsbe.gov; requires NC driver's license number, NC ID number, or last 4 digits of SSN; deadline: 25 days before Election Day
  4. BY MAIL: Download NC voter registration form from ncsbe.gov; complete, sign; must be postmarked by 25th day before election and received by the 20th day; or received by the county BOE by the 25th day
  5. IN PERSON: County Board of Elections office; NC DMV (motor voter); many government assistance agencies; in-person advance deadline: 25 days before Election Day
  6. SAME-DAY REGISTRATION DURING EARLY VOTING: Register and vote on the same day during the early voting period (about 17 days before election through the Saturday before); must show qualifying ID; subject to post-election address verification
  7. ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION (LIMITED): Only available for a narrow category - new naturalized citizens or individuals whose voting rights were restored after a felony conviction AFTER the regular registration deadline; contact county BOE
  8. Submit registration by applicable deadline
  9. Receive confirmation
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • NC driver's license number or NC DMV ID number; OR last 4 digits of SSN
  • If neither available: check the box on the form and provide acceptable ID when voting
  • Proof of residency required for same-day registration during early voting (utility bill, bank statement, NC driver's license, etc.)
Fee
Free REGULAR REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 25 days before Election Day SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: During early voting period only (NOT on Election Day for most voters) CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: voterinfocheck.ncsbe.gov EARLY VOTING: NC offers early voting (One-Stop Absentee Voting) beginning about 17 days before Election Day and ending the Saturday before election at 3 PM; any registered voter may vote early at any early voting site in their county; no excuse required NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE MAIL VOTING: Any registered NC voter may request an absentee ballot; request by 7 days before election; voted ballot due by 7:30 PM Election Day ONLINE OPTION: Yes - ncsbe.gov (registration, absentee requests, status check) WHERE TO GO: County Board of Elections; NC DMV (motor voter); early voting sites (for same-day registration); many government agencies
Online Option
Yes - ncsbe.gov (registration, absentee requests, status check)
Where to Go
County Board of Elections; NC DMV (motor voter); early voting sites (for same-day registration); many government agencies
County-specific variations apply

Each of NC's 100 counties has its own County Board of Elections. Wake County (Raleigh), Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), Guilford County (Greensboro), Forsyth County (Winston-Salem), and Durham County have extensive early voting networks with multiple sites. Rural NC counties may have fewer early voting locations. Contact your specific county BOE for local early voting sites and hours.

North Carolina Notes

Important state-specific details

  • FELONY VOTING RIGHTS (IMPORTANT - per NC Supreme Court ruling April 2023): North Carolina requires completion of the ENTIRE sentence - including prison, probation, post-release supervision, AND parole - before voting rights are restored. NC is more restrictive than many states. Rights are automatically restored upon completion of the full sentence (no application needed); can then register immediately.
  • PRE-REGISTRATION: 16 and 17-year-olds may pre-register; registration becomes fully effective at 18 (or 17 if will be 18 by next general election and voting in primary).
  • PHOTO ID REQUIRED: NC requires photo ID to vote; acceptable: NC driver's license, NC DMV ID card, U.S. passport, other government-issued photo ID, college/university photo ID; if no qualifying photo ID: sign a reasonable impediment declaration and provide supporting document (utility bill, bank statement, etc.); county BOE provides a free NC voter ID card.
  • SAME-DAY REGISTRATION only during early voting period - subject to post-election address verification.
  • Polls open 6:30 AM - 7:30 PM on Election Day.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
NC State Board of Elections - ncsbe.gov | (919) 814-0700; County Board of Elections (varies); voter info check: voterinfocheck.ncsbe.gov