Who Can Register

Qualifications to Register to Vote

To register to vote in North Carolina, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
  • See the USCIS website for citizenship information.
  • Citizenship documents are NOT required to register.
• Live in the county where you are registering, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
  • The federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows certain voters who are active duty military or their families as well as U.S. citizens abroad special rights that provide an expedited means to register and vote by mail-in ballot. Find more information on Military and Overseas Voting.
• Be at least 18 years old, or will be by the date of the general election.
  • 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote.
  • 17-year-olds may vote in a primary election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election.

• Not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision.

  • Note: By order of the court, you may now register and vote if you are serving an extended term of probation, post-release supervision, or parole, you have outstanding fines, fees, or restitution, and you do not know of another reason that your probation, post-release supervision, or parole was extended.

  • Once you have completed a felony sentence, including any probation, parole, or post-release supervision, or received a pardon, you are eligible to register and vote. No additional documentation is needed.

  • If you have been discharged from probation, you are eligible to register and vote, even if you still owe money or have a civil lien.

Note: An inactive voter is still a registered voter. A voter who is inactive status will be asked to confirm their addresses when they appear to vote. No special document is required.

Registering as a College Student

Find out where to register and how to register during the one-stop early voting period at Registering as a College Student.

Registering as a Person in the NC Criminal Justice System

Find information at Registering as a Person in the NC Criminal System.

Preregistering to Vote When You are 16 or 17 Years Old

Eligible voters who preregister will automatically be registered to vote when they turn 18 years old. Find more information at Preregistering to Vote When You are 16 or 17 Years Old.

Learn how to register