What you need to know before you go to the polls

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — In the primary election, voters will select nominees for a political party to move on to the Nov. 5 general election.

Thursday, The North Carolina State Board of Elections held a webinar to answer some questions regarding the new laws surrounding voting.

Let's start with some important dates

• Jan. 19: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who have submitted an absentee ballot request.
• Feb. 9: The voter registration deadline is at 5 p.m.
• Feb. 15: In-person early voting begins; same-day voter registration is available.
• Feb. 27: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.)*
• March 2: In-person early voting ends a 3 p.m.
• March 5: Primary Election Day
• March 5: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.)*
• March 15: County boards of elections primary canvass meetings (11 a.m.)
• March 26: State Board of Elections primary canvass meeting (11 a.m.)

All eligible primary voters must have an acceptable photo ID.

Photo ID Required for Voting

A new law in 2024 — everyone voting must have an acceptable photo ID.

If a voter does not have an acceptable photo ID, they can get one for free from their county board of elections. 

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'. 

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. 

Absentee-By-Mail

Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID when returning their ballot, or they may complete an ID Exception Form. The voter places the photocopy of the ID or ID Exception Form in a pocket on the outside of the ballot container envelope, which is then placed in an outer return envelope to protect the privacy of the voter. 

Absentee ballot-by-mail must be received at the county board of elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on election day which is March 5.

Under the new law, there's no longer a grace period if a ballot arrives after Election Day.

Acceptable Photo IDs for Voting

Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• State ID from the NCDMV (also called “non-operator ID”)
• Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
• North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (see Get a Free Voter Photo ID).
• College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)
• State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

• Military or veteran ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government.
• Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the state or federal government.
• ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.)

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:

1. 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.
2. The voter has a religious objection to being photographed.
3. 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.

If you mail your ballot, you can track it by registering for BallotTrax.