Tips for Voters
2020 General Election
Register to vote.
Download the appropriate voter registration application, complete, and mail it to your county board of elections.
| Registration Form | Downloads |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Voter Registration Application | (Note: Registration deadlines for the November 2020 election have passed.) |
Existing N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) customers may register to vote online:
NCDMV Online Voter Registration Application
You may also register to vote in person at your county board of elections office. Find your county board of elections here:
County Boards of Elections Search
The regular voter registration deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, October 9. Voters may also same-day register and vote at any one-stop early voting site in their county during the early voting period from October 15 to October 31.
Check your voter registration and view your sample ballot.
To check your voter registration, use the Voter Search tool to make sure it is up to date. After you’ve located your voter record, click on the link under the “Sample Ballots” section to view.
Vote by mail.
Absentee by-mail voting is available to all registered voters. To request an absentee ballot, complete the North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form and email, fax, mail or return it in person.
| Vote by Mail Form | Downloads |
|---|---|
| Absentee Ballot Request Form | (Note: Absentee ballot deadlines have passed.) |
You may also use the online absentee ballot request portal, and track your ballot for free with BallotTrax.
| Online Vote by Mail Tools | Description |
|---|---|
|
Absentee Ballot Request Portal |
Request an absentee ballot online. (Note: Absentee ballot deadlines have passed.) |
|
BallotTrax |
Track your absentee ballot through the mail. (Note: Absentee ballot deadlines have passed.) |
Learn more about absentee voting on our Vote by Mail page.
Vote during the one-stop early voting period.
In 2020, North Carolina voters can take advantage of 17 days of in-person early voting from October 15 to October 31. Voters will be able to go to any one-stop early voting site in their county to register and cast a ballot. Sites, days and hours vary by county. To view locations and schedules, go to:
One-Stop Early Voting Site Search
Learn more about voting early on our Vote Early in Person page.
Vote on Election Day.
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — Tuesday, November 3. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to cast ballots. On Election Day, voters should go to their assigned polling place to ensure they receive the correct ballot style. Voters may find their Election Day polling place here:
Learn more about voting on November 3 on our Vote In-Person on Election Day page.
Stay safe when you vote in person.
All voters are encouraged to wear a mask. Masks, hand sanitizer and single-use pens will be available at all voting sites for voters who do not bring their own. Poll workers are required to wear masks and enact social distancing measures.
Learn more about elections-related safety precautions during the pandemic on our Voting and Coronavirus page.
Every voting site offers curbside voting for voters who:
- Are unable to enter the polling place due to age or disability;
- Have a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of contracting COVID-19; or
- Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
Learn more on our Curbside Voting page.
Treat others at the polls with courtesy and respect.
The State Board of Elections asks voters, campaigners and advocates to promote a positive experience during early voting and on Election Day. Please respect the right of all voters to participate in the election without fear of intimidation or violence. Intimidating any voter is a state and federal crime.
Request an Absentee Ballot Letter From Our Executive Director
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