Choosing Your Party Affiliation

Overview

Learn about the political affiliations recognized by our state and how your selection impacts your vote. Registered voters can use the Voter Search to confirm their party affiliation. Individuals that have not registered to vote yet can learn how to do so at How to Register.

Do you wish to change your party affiliation? The civilian voter registration deadline (25 days before Election Day) is also the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation or unaffiliated status for the next election. Learn how to do so at Updating Registration.

4 Political Parties

North Carolina recognizes four political parties: The Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Republican Party. A voter may choose one political party or can decide not to register with a political party. If a voter does not register with a political party, the voter will be registered as unaffiliated.

In a partisan primary, voters affiliated with a political party may only vote their party’s ballot and may not vote in another party’s primary. For example, a registered Republican may only vote in the Republican Party primary. Unaffiliated voters may choose the Democratic, Libertarian, Republican, or nonpartisan ballot (if available) in a primary election. The Green Party has not opened its primaries to unaffiliated voters.

The State Board of Elections recognized the Green Party in early August 2022. The State Board is updating and will distribute new voter registration forms that include the Green Party option. Until then, voters may register with the Green Party by checking the “Other” box and writing “Green” on the line in “Political Party Affiliation” section of the voter registration application. Updates to party affiliation options available through the Division of Motor Vehicles' online registration portal will be made as soon as possible.

In a general election, voters may vote for the candidate(s) of their choice, regardless of party. North Carolina does not allow straight-ticket voting (also called straight-party voting).