North Carolina Voting Guide

By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq. | Last updated February 11, 2026

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Welcome to FindLaw’s North Carolina Voter Guide. Here, you’ll find important information about your right to vote and specific rules for North Carolina, including:

• Who is eligible to vote
• Voter registration processes and deadlines
• Rules for mail-in and in-person voting
• Special accommodations
• What you can do if you see illegal activity at the polls

Who Is Eligible to Vote in North Carolina?

Eligibility requirements to vote in North Carolina are as follows:

• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old on Election Day
• You must be registered to vote and live in the county where you’re registered to vote for at least 30 days
• You cannot be serving a sentence in prison or jail for a felony conviction

If you previously served a sentence for a felony conviction and your rights have been restored, you can vote in North Carolina.

You can check your voter registration status​ using the voter search tool.

North Carolina Voter Registration Deadlines

For both primary and general elections, the deadline to register to vote in North Carolina​ is 25 days before election day. You must complete your voter registration at least 25 days before Election Day for your registration to be processed in time.

Important info on same-day registration: Most people cannot register to vote on Election Day in North Carolina. You must register by the 25-day deadline to vote in an election. However, you can register and vote on the same day during early voting.

Same Day Voter Registration in North Carolina

Only specific groups of would-be voters are eligible to register and vote on the same day:

• Individuals who became naturalized U.S. citizens after the regular voter registration deadline but before Election Day
• Individuals whose voting rights were restored after completing a felony sentence, if the restoration occurred after the regular registration deadline but before Election Day

If you qualify under one of these limited circumstances, you may register in person during the early voting period or on Election Day itself.

To register on the same day you vote, you must present a valid photo ID along with proof of residency, such as a copy of a utility bill or a North Carolina driver’s license. Other acceptable documents for proof of residency include bank statements, paycheck stubs, or government-issued documents showing your name and current address.

Same-day registrants are subject to post-election address verification. County boards of elections will verify your address after the election to confirm your eligibility.

For more information about same-day registration eligibility, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections page on Registering in Person During Early Voting. For guidance about registering to vote while incarcerated or after completing a felony sentence, visit Registering as a Person in the Criminal Justice System.

Early Voting in North Carolina

Early voting typically begins about two and a half weeks before Election Day and ends the Saturday before the election. Enter your county into the NCSBE’s Early Voting Sites tool to find exact dates and locations.

Any eligible voter in North Carolina can take advantage of the early voting option. Photo ID is required for early voting, just as it is required on Election Day.

How Do I Request an Absentee Ballot?

Any registered NC voter can request to vote absentee in North Carolina. There are two options to do so:

• Request online​ at the absentee ballot portal
• Request and fill out an absentee ballot request form​. Submit it in person to your county board of elections​ or send it via mail.

You can track your ballot via BallotTrax​.

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) also allows certain voters abroad to register and vote using mail-in ballots. Some of the voters​ UOCAVA covers include active-duty military members, their dependents, and American citizens living outside the country.

Absentee Ballot Requirements and Deadlines

If you wish to cast an absentee ballot in an upcoming election, keep the following important dates and requirements in mind:

• Requests for absentee ballots must be submitted at least 7 days before Election Day (by the Tuesday before Election Day for a Tuesday election)
• Completed absentee ballots must arrive at your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. The previous 3-day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day was repealed.
• Photo ID is now required for mail-in voting. You must provide a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID with your absentee ballot, unless you qualify for an exemption.
• Absentee ballot envelopes now require two witness information lines (witness name and address) instead of one. Your witness must sign the envelope and provide their complete address.
• A new signature-verification process is in place to verify absentee ballot signatures against voter registration records.

How Do I Vote on Election Day?

North Carolina now requires a photo ID to vote in person and by mail. The following are acceptable forms of identification​:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• State ID issued by North Carolina DMV, otherwise known as non-operator ID
• U.S. Passport or U.S. passport card
• North Carolina voter photo ID issued by a County Board of Elections
• Student ID issued by a college or university approved by the North Carolina State Board of Elections
• Employee ID issued by the state or local government entity
• U.S. military ID
• U.S. veterans ID
• Tribal enrollment ID
• Public assistance ID card issued by a U.S. agency, department, or entity

Expired IDs may be acceptable if they were issued by a North Carolina agency and expired within a reasonable time before the election (generally within one year for most IDs, or at any time for voters 65 or older).

The county board of elections office can also issue a free voter photo ID card​.

You must be a registered voter in the county and provide your name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number. The county election official will also take a photograph for your ID.

If You Don’t Have Photo ID

There are a few exceptions and accommodations available for people without a photo ID. For example, those who have religious objections to being photographed can fill out a special form and cast a provisional ballot.

If an NC voter cannot present an acceptable photo ID when voting, they can request a photo ID exception form.​ This requires you to prove a “reasonable impediment” prevented you from having a photo ID when you arrived at the polls, such as:

• Lack of transportation
• Disability or illness
• Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain ID
• Work schedule
• Family responsibilities
• Lost or stolen photo ID
• Photo ID applied for but not yet received
• Religious objection to being photographed

Polling Place Accommodations

Federal and state law requires accessible voting options for voters with disabilities. This includes providing accessible voting machines and ballots and ensuring every voter can participate in the electoral process. NC voters with disabilities can also receive voting assistance from a person of their choice (except their employer or union representative).

Curbside Voting

Voters who are unable to enter the polling place due to age or disability may request curbside voting. A bipartisan team of election officials will bring a ballot to your vehicle.

Assistance for Voters with Disabilities

Polling places must have at least one accessible voting system that allows voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Voters who need assistance may also bring someone to help them vote, or they may request assistance from two election workers of different political parties.

For more information on voting accommodations for voters with disabilities, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections website at Help for Voters With Disabilities.​

What to Do About Voter Intimidation and Interference at the Polls

State and federal law protect against voter intimidation, coercion, and interference. If you witness or experience voter intimidation, harassment, or other illegal activity at a polling place, you have several options for reporting it and protecting your rights.

What Constitutes Illegal Activity at Polling Places?

Under North Carolina and federal law, the following activities are illegal:

• Voter intimidation or coercion: Threatening, intimidating, or attempting to coerce someone to vote or not vote, or to vote for or against a particular candidate
• Interference with voting: Blocking access to polling places, interfering with voters in line, or disrupting the voting process
• False information about voting: Providing false information about voting requirements, polling locations, dates, or times with the intent to prevent someone from voting
• Electioneering near polling places: Campaigning, displaying campaign materials, or attempting to influence voters within the buffer zone around polling places (generally within 50 feet of the voting enclosure or building entrance in North Carolina)
• Photographing or filming voters without consent: Taking photos or videos of voters or ballots inside the polling place (North Carolina prohibits the use of photographic devices within the voting enclosure)
• Challenging voters based on race or discriminatory reasons: Systematically challenging the eligibility of voters based on protected characteristics
• Impersonating election officials: Falsely representing yourself as an election official or poll worker
• Buying or selling votes: Offering money, gifts, or other items of value in exchange for votes
• Removing or destroying ballots or election materials: Tampering with ballots, voting equipment, or other election materials

How to Report Illegal Activity

If you witness illegal activity at a polling place, you can:

1. Notify poll workers or precinct officials immediately. Chief judges at polling locations have the authority to maintain order and address violations.
2. Contact your county board of elections. Each county has election officials who can respond to reports of violations. You can find contact information for your county board of elections​ online.
3. Report to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. The security section of the North Carolina State Board of Elections website​ has information about election-day security, voting machines, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and reporting procedures.
4. File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice investigates violations of federal voting rights laws. You can submit complaints online or by phone at 1-800-253-3931.
5. Call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). This nonpartisan hotline provides assistance to voters experiencing problems at the polls, including assistance in multiple languages.

How to Find Legal Help

Protecting the integrity of elections and ensuring every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote is fundamental to democracy. Don’t hesitate to report suspicious or illegal activity—election officials take these reports seriously and investigate potential violations.

You can also contact a North Carolina civil rights attorney​ specializing in election laws if you have questions about voting information or need assistance protecting your voting rights. Election law attorneys can provide guidance about your specific situation and may be able to intervene if your rights are being violated.