GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — The primary election is around the corner. It's Tuesday, March 5.
With only a few weeks away, here's a guide with everything you need to know.
How to Register to Vote
You can:
- Register to vote online using the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles website. You can use this method if you have an NC driver's license or another form of DMV identification. You can also register to vote at the DMV in person.
- Complete a paper voter registration application (available in English and Spanish) and submit it to your county board of elections office. The paper voter registration application can be submitted by mail.
For the primary election, the deadline has passed to register to vote using the above-mentioned methods but you will still be able to register to vote during in-person early voting.
Early voting for the primary election is Thursday, Feb. 15- Saturday, March 2.
Find Sample Ballot
To find your sample ballot and precinct go to the North Carolina State Board of Elections website go to the voter tools and forms section of the website and select voter search. Then put in your information as prompted and hit search. Your sample ballot and precinct will be listed along with other voter resources including your voter status.
Photo ID Required for Voting
Voters will have to show their driver's license, but there are many other acceptable photo IDs.
If a voter does not have an acceptable photo ID, they can get one for free from their county board of elections. Learn more at Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
Voters can also get a free ID card from the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). Find more information under 'No-Fee ID Cards'.
All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. If a voter cannot show a photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception form. If absentee-by-mail voters are unable to include a copy of their photo ID with their ballot return envelope, they can also fill out an ID Exception Form with their ballot.
Free Photo ID Cards
All county boards of elections can issue free voter photo IDs to registered voters in their county. To be issued a free voter photo ID card, the voter must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number, and have their photo taken. Find additional information at Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
Additionally, any North Carolina resident can get a free non-driver’s ID card from the DMV. Find more information under “No-Fee ID Cards” at State IDs | NCDMV.
ID Exceptions
If any voter is unable to show a photo ID when voting (whether in person or by mail), they may fill out an ID Exception Form and vote their ballot. The voter will choose from the following permitted exceptions:
- The voter has a “reasonable impediment” to showing a photo ID. This means that something is preventing the voter from showing ID. The voter must provide their reason by selecting from the following choices on the form.
- Lack of transportation
- Disability or illness
- Lack of birth certificate or other documents needed to obtain an ID.
- Work or school schedule
- Family responsibilities
- Photo ID is lost, stolen, or misplaced.
- Applied for a photo ID but have not received it.
- (For mail voters only) Unable to attach a copy of photo ID (Voter must include driver’s license number or last four digits of Social Security number)
- Other reasonable impediments (if selected, the voter must write the reason on the form)
- State or federal law prohibits voters from listing the reason.
- The voter has a religious objection to being photographed.
- The voter was a victim of a natural disaster within 100 days before Election Day that resulted in a disaster declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor of North Carolina.
County boards of elections must count provisional ballots with properly completed ID Exception Forms.
EARLY VOTING
You can vote early in North Carolina. The early voting period for the 2024 primary election begins Thursday Feb. 15 and ends Saturday, March 2 at 3 p.m.
Registered voters may cast an absentee ballot in person during this time. This period is sometimes called "one-stop early voting."
If you aren't registered, you can still register and cast your ballot at any early voting site in your county on the same day. This is different than Election Day, where registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place.
VOTING BY MAIL
Can't make it to the ballot in person? You can vote by mail in North Carolina. Here are a few steps you'll need to take to do so.
Request a Ballot
As long as you're registered to vote, you can vote via mail-in absentee ballot. Registered voters must put in a request to receive an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. Here's how you can submit the form:
Online with "Option 1 – Request an Absentee Ballot" on N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
On paper with English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2024 (PDF) or Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2024.
After you submitted a request, you can track the status through this website: BallotTrax.
A close relative or legal guardian may request a ballot on your behalf.
Fill out your Ballot
Mark your ballot in front of two witnesses or a public notary.
Seal your ballot and place it in the return envelope that came with your ballot. Do not put anything else in the envelope.
Sign your name on the back of the envelope.
Each witness must sign and print their name and provide their address on the back of the envelope.
Anyone who assisted you, such as a close relative or legal guardian, must sign and print their name, providing their address on the back as well.
Returning your Ballot
Your mail-in ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day Tuesday, March 5.
You can also return your ballot in person to the county board of elections office or a one-stop early voting site in your county. If you're handing it in on Election Day, it must be received by 7:30 p.m. (You cannot return your ballot to a polling site on Election Day.)
You or a close relative are the only ones who can mail in, or hand deliver your ballot, according to NC state laws.
VOTING ON ELECTION DAY
Looking to cast your vote on Election Day? We've got you covered. Voters in North Carolina can find their polling place on North Carolina's site.
Polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Any voter in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote.
Remember to bring a photo ID, voters will be asked to show photo ID to check in to vote.
North Carolina does not offer registration on Election Day.
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