NORTH CAROLINA, USA — In-person early voting for the 2024 general election begins Thursday, Oct. 17, and ends on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. in all 100 NC counties.
Executive Director of the State Board of Elections Karen Brinson Bell says in-person early voting has been the most popular method of voting in recent general elections and it is expected to continue in 2024.
In 2020, 65% of NC voters chose in-person early voting as their voting method. In the presidential election of 2016, 62% of NC voters cast their ballot early.
Here are 10 tips for voters as early voting begins:
1. Early voting location
Eligible voters can cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county.
Voters can find voter sites and hours in all the counties by using the early voting site search tool.
2. Candidate Info
Sample ballots are available through the voter search tool.
The guide will also be mailed to all NC 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.
3. Register to vote
The regular voter registration deadline has passed 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.
4. Updating registration
During early voting, registered voters may update their name or address within the same county, if necessary.
5. Bring 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 a photo ID can meet the photo ID requirement by either:
- filling out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID
- showing their ID at the county board of elections office by 5 p.m.
6. 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
7. 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.
It can also be dropped off in person at 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.
8. 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 which is Nov. 5.
Voters can discard the absentee ballot and don't need to bring it to a voting site. Curbside voting is also an option.
9. 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!
10. 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 a voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should let an official know immediately.
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