Vote Early in Person

Early Voting

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.”

During early voting, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county, and would-be voters may same-day register and vote. This is different than Election Day, where registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place.

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.

Find your sample ballot: Registered voters may enter their information into the Voter Search tool to view their sample ballot. Please note, you must enter your voter information as there are about 2,000 different ballot styles across the state. Note: Sample ballots change for each election and are only available through the search tool once finalized.

After you vote: You can find that your vote counted in the “Your Absentee Ballot” section of the Voter Search tool database. Under North Carolina law, all early votes – by-mail or in-person – are considered absentee votes. If you voted during the early voting period, your “Absentee Status” will show “VALID RETURN,” the “Return Method” will be “IN PERSON” and your “Return Status” will be “ACCEPTED.” Your ballot status also will show up in the “Voter History” section as soon as your county completes the post-election process of assigning voter history to your record. This may take a couple of weeks or longer.

Same-Day Registration

When you check in to vote at an early voting site, you may update your name or address within the same county if necessary. Individuals who are not registered to vote in a county may register and immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.”

Want to learn more? Find more information on Register in Person During Early Voting.

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

The State Board asks that all voters respect the right of others to participate in the election. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.

COVID-19 Safeguards

Significant precautions will be made to protect voters and election officials against the transmission of coronavirus. These include enforcing social distancing, erecting barriers between election workers and voters at check-in tables, and more. For more information, please visit Voting and Coronavirus.

By-Mail Absentee Ballot Drop-Off

Voters who receive an absentee ballot by mail may deliver their ballot to an election official at a one-stop early voting site during any time that site is open for voting. Ballots will be kept securely and delivered to the county board of elections for processing.

Voting Equipment

To see what your county uses for one-stop early voting, go to the Voting Equipment page, and see the map for “One-Stop Early Voting Equipment, by County.”

Voter Assistance and Curbside Voting

Any voter who qualifies for assistance may ask for help at an early voting site. N.C.G.S. § 163-166.8. To find more information, visit Help for Voters with Disabilities. Curbside voting is available for eligible individuals. For more information, see Curbside Voting.