North Carolina election officials are reminding eligible individuals who aren’t yet registered to vote that there is still time to do so before the Nov. 3 general election.
Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to encouraging voter participation in the election process.
“Registering to vote in North Carolina is easy and fast, and eligible voters have a few different options for how to accomplish this,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We encourage North Carolinians who are eligible to consider registration so that they can exercise their civic duty in upcoming elections.”
The regular voter registration deadline for the 2026 general election is 5 p.m. Oct. 9. Under state law, the deadline is 25 days before Election Day. Potential voters who miss the regular deadline may still register and vote during the early voting period. See below for details on how to register.
How to Register
Eligible North Carolina residents may register in the following ways:
- U.S. citizens with a North Carolina driver’s license or other NCDMV identification may submit a voter registration application online. Learn more at Complete Your Registration Online Through the DMV. Eligible individuals may also register in person at NCDMV offices.
- Complete a Voter Registration Application in English or Spanish on paper and return it to their county board of elections by 5 p.m. the day of the deadline:
NC Voter Registration Application in English (fillable PDF)
NC Voter Registration Application in Spanish (fillable PDF)
- Register when applying for services at certain state agencies. Learn more at National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).
- Individuals who miss the regular registration deadline may register during the early voting period (Oct. 15-31) at any early voting site in their county of residence. This is often called “same-day registration.” For more information, go to Register in Person During Early Voting.
For information about who is eligible to register and vote, go the Who Can Register. For information about updating an existing registration, go to Updating Registration. Unsure if you are registered? Find out your voter registration status with the Voter Search Tool.