From the North Carolina State Board of Elections
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 North Carolina’s current elections, visit Upcoming Election.
Early Voting Dates and Sites
- The in-person early voting period for the 2024 general election:
- Begins Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
- Ends 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.
- The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
- Find early voting sites and schedules in your county: Early Voting Site Search.
- Locations and voting hours are also available here: Early Voting Sites for the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election (PDF).
Unsure if You Are Registered?
Find out if you are registered to vote by entering your information into the Voter Search.
10 Tips for NC Voters as Early Voting Begins
The following are 10 tips for voters as early voting begins:
- Early voting locations. Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. For sites and hours in all 100 counties, use the Early Voting Sites Search tool. Also see Early Voting Sites for the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election (PDF). The busiest days for early voting are often the first day and the last couple of days.
- Candidate info. Sample ballots are available through the Voter Search tool. For information on candidates for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, see the State Board’s Judicial Voter Guide: 2024 General Election. The Guide is also being mailed to all N.C. households. Election officials do not provide information about candidates for other contests, but some media outlets and advocacy groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Being familiar with your ballot choices will help your voting experience go more smoothly.
- Bring your photo ID. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Most voters will show their driver’s license, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted. Voters who do not have photo ID can meet the photo ID requirement by either (1) filling out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID, or (2) showing their ID at the county board of elections office by 5 p.m. Nov. 14. More information about the photo ID requirement is available at BringItNC.gov.
- Free photo IDs. Any registered voter who needs a photo ID can get one for free from their county board of elections office during the early voting period, which ends on Nov. 2. For details, go to Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
- Register to vote. The regular voter registration deadline was Oct. 11. But any North Carolinian who is eligible to vote may still register and vote during the early voting period. Registrants must provide proof of their residence address, which can be a driver’s license or other government document, paycheck, utility bill, or bank statement. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting.
- Updating registration. During early voting, registered voters may update their name or address within the same county, if necessary.
- Absentee ballot drop-off. Voters who vote by absentee ballot can return it by mail or hand it to an election official at an early voting site in their county. They can also drop it off in person to their county board of elections office. Voters registered in the 25 counties in the Helene disaster area in Western North Carolina may return their absentee ballot to any early voting site in the state during early voting hours. Ballots will be kept secure and delivered to the voter’s county board of elections for processing. For more information on returning absentee-by-mail ballots, see Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail.
- Voting in person instead of absentee. Voters who requested an absentee ballot but have not yet returned it may choose instead to vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day, Nov. 5. Voters may discard the absentee ballot and do not need to bring it to a voting site.
- Peace at the polls. All voters should respect the rights of others to participate in the election. Election officials are trained to quickly address incidents that might interfere with a voter’s ability to cast their ballot. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
- Voters in need of assistance. Voters in need of assistance may bring an eligible person to help them enter and exit the polling place or to help them complete their ballot according to the voter’s instructions. Election officials are also available to help voters. Curbside voting is also available for voters unable to enter the voting site. For more information, visit Curbside Voting.
Don’t Forget Your Photo ID
North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Learn more: Voter ID.
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 NC Absentee Ballot Portal.
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 an 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
Curious which equipment will be at your voting site? Check the interactive map and table: 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.
Photo above: early morning sunrise over Pamlico Sound and the Outer Banks
