Register in Person During Early Voting

Same-Day Registration

The early voting period begins and ends before Election Day. (For the 2020 general election, early voting occurred Oct. 15–31 in North Carolina.) Any registered voter or eligible individual in North Carolina may cast an absentee ballot in person during this time. This period is sometimes called “one-stop early voting.”

Individuals who are not registered to vote in a county may register at early voting sites during the early voting period. After registering, the newly registered voter can immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.”

Unsure if you are registered? Find out if you are already registered to vote by entering your information into the Voter Search tool.

Find early voting sites: See early voting sites and schedules in your county with the One-Stop Early Voting Site Search. Hours and dates will appear after you click on the location.

Note: Voting sites and schedules change for each election and are only available through the search tool once finalized.

How to Same-Day Register

Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live. A voter attests to their eligibility by completing and signing a North Carolina Voter Registration Application (Spanish version.) The voter must prove their residence by showing any of the following documents with their current name and address:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• Other photo identification issued by a government agency. Any government-issued photo ID is acceptable, provided that the card includes the voter's current name and address.
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing the voter’s name and address.
• A current college/university photo identification card paired with proof of campus habitation. For additional guidance on acceptable proof of residence for college students, visit Registering as a College Student: During Early Voting.

Within two business days of the person’s registration, the county board of elections will verify the registrant’s driver’s license or Social Security number, update the voter registration database, search for possible duplicate registrations, and begin to verify the registrant’s address by mail. The registrant’s ballot will be counted unless the county board of elections determines that he or she is not qualified to vote that ballot.

Want to learn more about early voting? See Vote Early in Person.