Updating Registration

When you move within your county, you should complete an in-county change of address. You may make changes to your voter registration using the following methods:

• On your voter registration card
• On an Address Confirmation Notice
• By signed letter to your county board of elections
• On the NC Voter Registration Application or National Mail Voter Registration Form
• On the Federal Postcard Application or Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (for Military and Overseas Voters only)
• At a one-stop early voting site
• On Election Day (recommend updating your address before Election Day)
• On State Absentee Ballot Request Form if you plan on voting by mail
• The Online Voter Registration Service
• At DMV or any other NVRA agency

If you move during a time close to an election, the following rules apply:

• If you moved more than 30 days before the election, you must update your registration with your new address (or if applicable, register to vote in your new county of residence) no later than 25 days before the election. You may also update your address using same-day registration during the in-person early voting period.
• If you don’t update your voter registration by Election Day, you may still vote at your new polling location, as long as your move is within the same county. Since your move was unreported, you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot. You can also vote provisionally at your old polling place, but you may not receive a ballot with all the contests you are eligible to vote in. You can also vote at a central transfer precinct; contact your county board of elections for more information about this option.
• If you moved fewer than 30 days before the election, you must vote in your prior polling place.

Please be sure to notify the board of any changes to your mailing address, if different from your residential address. The board may need to contact you by mail to inform you of changes to your polling place and/or voting districts.

If you need to make other changes to your voter record (name change, party affiliation change, etc.), you may use a voter registration application. For changes other than party affiliation, you may use same-day registration at an early voting site. For a primary election, you may not change your party affiliation at a One-Stop early voting site. You may change your party affiliation during early voting for a general election, but the change would not take place until after canvass.

Once you make changes to your voter registration record, allow two weeks for delivery of your new voter registration card. Read the information carefully and note any changes or mistakes on the card. A voter registration card is for your use only; you do not need the card to vote. You can also check your information on the Voter Search tool.