10 tips for NC voters before Election Day

The North Carolina State Board of Elections offered some tips to voters ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 5th.

Below are 10 tips for voters heading to the polls on Tuesday:

1. Go to your assigned polling place on Election Day. Across North Carolina, more than 2,650 polling locations will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters in line at 7:30 p.m. can cast their ballot. To find your polling place, use the voter locator tool on the state board's website, ncsbe.gov.
2. Find your sample ballot. Voters can use the State Board's voter search tool to find their sample ballot. The sample ballot paper looks exactly like your ballot paper. Use Voter Finder to access your voter list, then scroll down to the “Your Sample Ballot” section. For information about candidates for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, see the State Board's Judicial Voter Guide: 2024 General Election. Election officials do not release information about candidates for other contests, but some media and interest groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Being familiar with your choices will make your voting experience go more smoothly.
3. Bring your photo ID with you. Voters will be asked to present photo ID when checking in to vote. Most voters show their driver's license, but many other forms of photo ID are also accepted. Voters who do not have a photo ID may comply with the photo ID requirement by either (1) completing a form explaining why they cannot show a photo ID or (2) presenting their ID at the county elections office no later than 5:00 p.m show. 14. For more information about the photo ID requirement, visit BringItNC.gov.
4. Voter registration is not permitted on Election Day. While this is the general rule, voters who become eligible to vote after the regular voter registration deadline (October 11) because they either become U.S. citizens or have their rights restored after a felony conviction will still be allowed to register on Election Day .
5. Submission of postal voting documents. Voters who still need to return their mail-in ballot can drop it off in person at their county elections office either during business hours on Monday or Tuesday, Election Day, before 7:30 p.m. Voters registered in the 25 counties in the Helene disaster areas of Western North Carolina can return their mail-in ballots to any election office in the state. Ballots are securely stored and delivered to the voter's county election board for processing.
6. Voting in person instead of postal voting. Voters who have requested a mail-in ballot but not yet returned it can instead vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 5. Voters can discard their mail-in ballot and do not have to bring it with them to the polling place.
7. Voters need help. Voters who need assistance may bring a voter authorized person to assist them in entering and exiting the polling station or to help them fill out their ballot according to the voter's instructions. Election workers are also available to assist voters. Persons assisting voters in filling out their ballots are not allowed to influence the voter's decisions. Curbside voting is available for voters who cannot enter the polling station.
8. State and federal laws prohibit voter intimidation or interference. This includes obstructing access to the polling station, whether inside or outside the polling station. It is also a crime to obstruct election officials in the performance of their duties. Penalties for violations include jail time, a fine, or both. The State Board takes these incidents very seriously. When they occur, we will work with our law enforcement partners to respond. Voters who experience harassment or intimidation should immediately notify a poll worker.
9. The election results will be posted on the State Board website. View the election results dashboard. Information about when the public can expect unofficial results on election night can also be found in the Election Night Coverage Schedule. And check out 9 facts about North Carolina's vote counting and reporting process.
10. Peace at the ballot box. When you participate in the election – as a voter, poll worker, observer or campaigner – please treat others with dignity and respect. We know that the political climate in our country is tense. But let’s make North Carolina a model for accessible, secure and accurate elections.