Overview of Early Voting
During the early voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. This is different than Election Day, when registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place. During the early voting period, eligible individuals may also register to vote and vote at the same time. See Same-Day Registration below.
For an overview of the 2023 municipal elections, visit Upcoming Election.
Note: Beginning with the 2023 municipal elections, North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Learn more at Voter ID.
Unsure if you are registered? Find out if you are registered to vote by entering your information into the Voter Search.
Early Voting Sites
One-stop, in-person early voting for the October 2023 municipal elections in various municipalities begins Thursday, Sept. 21, and ends Saturday, Oct. 7. Sites and voting hours are available at One-Stop Voting Sites for the Oct. 10, 2023 Election (PDF). Early voting sites and hours are also available at One-Stop Early Voting Site Search.
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.” Find more information at Register in Person During Early Voting. Although same-day registration is available for voters during early voting, same-day registration is not available for most voters on Election Day.
Your Sample Ballot
To view sample ballots, registered voters must enter their information into the Voter Search and navigate to “Your Sample Ballot.” Voters can practice making selections with the accessible sample ballot: “Option 4” at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
Note: Sample ballots for each election are only available once finalized.
By-Mail Absentee Ballot Drop-Off
Voters who receive an absentee ballot by mail may deliver their ballot to their county board of elections office or 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 their polling place under Assistance to voters. 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.
After You Vote
You can find out whether your vote counted in the “Your Absentee Ballot” section of the Voter Search database. Under North Carolina law, all early votes – by-mail or in-person – are considered absentee votes. 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 up to a few weeks after Election Day.