10 Tips for Election Day Voters: 2025 Municipal Elections Edition

For registered voters in 447 cities, towns, and villages across 88 North Carolina counties, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Voters in many municipalities will select mayors and members of their local governing bodies. In some areas, voters will choose water and sewer or sanitary district commissioners or board of education members. Additionally, several towns have referenda on the ballot. [See statewide referenda list (PDF).]

The 2025 Municipal Elections Map on the Upcoming Election webpage and the Local Voter Tool include detailed information on elections being held this year.

The State Board of Elections offers the following tips for 2025 municipal election voters:

1. Who’s eligible? Voters must live and be registered to vote in a municipality to vote in its elections. Voters can find out if they’re eligible to vote in 2025 by going to the State Board’s Voter Search tool and looking for their sample ballot. If they don’t have a sample ballot attached to their voter record, they are not eligible to vote in any contests in November.
2. On Election Day, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.
3. Go to your assigned polling place on Election Day. Find your polling place through the State Board’s Voter Search tool.
4. Bring your photo ID. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when checking in at their polling place. Most voters will simply show their driver’s license, but there are many other acceptable photo IDs. For more information, including the full list of acceptable IDs, visit Voter ID. If a voter cannot show a photo ID, they can still vote by voting a provisional ballot and either (1) filling out an ID Exception Form explaining why they are unable to show ID, or (2) bringing their photo ID to their county board of elections by noon on Friday, Nov. 7.
5. Voter registration is not permitted on Election Day. While that is the general rule, voters who become eligible after the regular voter registration deadline (Oct. 10), either due to becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights restored following a felony conviction, are still permitted to register on Election Day.
6. Absentee ballot drop-off. Voters who still need to return their absentee ballot can drop it off in person at their county board of elections office, either during business hours or before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
7. Need assistance? Voters who need assistance at the polls must request that assistance by informing an election official when they enter the polling place. Curbside voting is available for voters who are unable to enter the voting place without assistance due to age or disability, but only for these voters. Once inside the polling place, voters who experience difficulties should request help from an election worker. For more information, see the Help for Voters with Disabilities page.
8. Provisional voting. If you present to vote and your name is not on the voter list, you may request a provisional ballot. About a week after the election, voters who cast a provisional ballot can check the status of their ballot with the Provisional Search tool. For more information, read Provisional Voting.
9. State and federal laws forbid intimidation or interference with voters, including hindering access to the voting place, whether inside or outside the buffer zone. The law also makes it a crime to interfere with election officials carrying out their duties. Penalties for violations include fines, prison time, or both. The State Board takes these incidents very seriously. When they occur, we will work with our law enforcement partners on appropriate responses. Voters who are harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
10. Election results will be posted on the State Board’s website. See results in real time at the Election Results Dashboard. See also the Election Night Reporting Timeline for information on when the public can expect unofficial results on election night.

For more information about Election Day voting, please visit Vote in Person on Election Day.