- On election day, polling stations are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters standing in line will be able to vote at 7:30 p.m. By state law, every NC voter will cast a hand-marked paper ballot or use a touch-screen ballot marking device that creates a paper ballot for the voter to verify before casting. All voters will insert their ballots into a tabulator that has been tested before being used at the polls. To find out what voting equipment is used in your county, read on Voting equipment.
- Voters must go to their designated polling station on Election Day. Find your polling station through st Voter search or Searching for a polling station.
- Sample ballots can be obtained through Voter search tool.
- If you vote by mail and have not returned your ballot, you cannot return your ballot to the polling station on Election Day. You can send your ballot back or sealed in a sealed envelope to your district election board until 5 p.m. on election day. Mail-in ballots must be posted on or before Election Day. If you mail in your ballot on or before Election Day, you cannot vote again in person.
- North Carolinians cannot register to vote on Election Day unless they became eligible after the Oct. 14 voter registration deadline by becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights reinstated after a felony conviction. Thanks to a recent court decision, North Carolinians with felony convictions are getting their rights back after they get out of prison. They have the right to vote while on probation, parole or post-release supervision.
- Voters are not required to show photo ID to vote. See Voter ID card for details.
- Voters who need help at the polls should ask for help. Voters who cannot get to the polling place without assistance due to age or disability may vote on the street. Once at the polling station, voters who experience difficulties should seek help from a poll worker. For more information, see Assistance to voters with disabilities page.
- If you show up to vote and your name is not on the voter list, you can request an advance ballot. Approximately 10 days after the election, early voters can check the status of their ballot using Temporary search tool. For more information read on Provisional voting.
- State and federal laws prohibit voter intimidation or interference, including obstructing access to a polling place, both inside and outside the buffer zone. The law also makes it a crime to interfere with the performance of election duties by officials. Penalties for violations include jail time, a fine, or both. The State Council takes these incidents very seriously. When they do occur, we will work with our law enforcement partners to respond appropriately. Voters who are harassed or intimidated should immediately notify an election committee official.
- The election results will be published during the election night in the State Council Election results panel. For more information read on What to expect on election night in North Carolina.
For more information about voting on Election Day, please visit Vote in person on Election Day.
