North Carolina Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s North Carolina Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of North Carolina voting rules and options. It focuses on North Carolina-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about North Carolina voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-North Carolina voting tools. It's an all-in-one North Carolina voting resource.
Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines
North Carolina Federal and State Elections
Tue Mar 3, 2026 - North Carolina Congressional Primary Election
Voter Registration Deadline
- In-Person Request by
Contact Local Election Office to confirm dates when in-person voter registration is available.
Fri Feb 6, 2026 - Postmarked by
Fri Feb 6, 2026 - Email, Online or Fax by
Contact Local Election Office to confirm dates when voter registration by electronic submission will be accepted.
Fri Feb 6, 2026 5:00PM - Same Day Registration & Voting
For those who become qualified to register and vote during this period
From Thu Feb 12, 2026 to Sat Feb 28, 2026
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
- Received by
Tue Feb 17, 2026 - Emergency Ballot Period
From Tue Feb 24, 2026 to Mon Mar 2, 2026
Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
- In-Person, Received by
Tue Mar 3, 2026 7:30PM - Post Received by
Tue Mar 3, 2026 7:30PM
Early Voting Available
Early VotingEarly Voting ends at 3 PM on Saturday before election.
From Thu Feb 12, 2026 to Sat Feb 28, 2026
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote:
- By mail
- In-person at your elections office
- Online
- At the NC Division of Motor Vehicles
- During your initial application for service of assistance or any recertification at public assistance agencies
You may update your registration through any of the above means, or by filing a new voter registration form.
You must register to vote 25 days before Election Day or you may register in-person during the early voting period.
If you are registering to vote for the first time by mail, you must provide a wet-ink, original, non-digital signature on the form. However, new registrants are not required to provide an original, wet-ink signature if they register online through the Division of Motor Vehicles. New registrants can also do same-day registration and voting during the In-Person Early Voting period.
You can check your registration status through [North Carolina's Voter Search Tool] (https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/your-voter-record).
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
You may vote at any early voting site in your county.
One-stop absentee voting is conducted from the second Thursday before the election and until 1pm on the last Saturday before Election Day.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. Expired forms from previous election years will not be accepted.
A notary public or two witnesses must observe you marking your ballot (but not how you vote). Place the completed ballot in the envelope provided to return it to your county board of elections.
You, a near relative, or a legal guardian may return your ballot. You can return the ballot in person or by mail. You will need a postage stamp to mail your ballot.
Your ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30pm on Election Day.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in North Carolina if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Are a resident of North Carolina
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in North Carolina if:
- You were disqualified from voting due to a court order
- You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
You are able to pre-register:
- At the age of 17
- At the age 16
17-year-olds may vote in a primary election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in North Carolina if:
- You reside in North Carolina but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in North Carolina
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in North Carolina you should provide:
Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
Your North Carolina Driver's License or State non-driver ID Number
Your North Carolina Voter Registration Number (if known)
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
Utility Bill
Government Check
Bank Statement
Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.
Voting In-Person
In-person voters will be asked to show any of the following when they check in to vote.
Valid North Carolina Driver's License
Valid US Passport
Valid North Carolina non-driver's ID
Student ID approved by North Carolina; unexpired or expired for less than 1 year
Valid North Carolina Voter Photo ID card, issued by board of elections
Valid charter school employee ID approved by North Carolina
Valid state/local government employee ID approved by North Carolina
Military or veteran ID card issued by U.S. government
Tribal enrollment card issued by a state or federally recognized tribe
Public Assistance ID
Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID inside the “photo ID envelope” that comes with their ballot. Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:
Student ID approved by North Carolina; unexpired or expired for less than 1 year
Valid North Carolina non-driver's ID
Valid North Carolina Driver's License
Valid charter school employee ID approved by North Carolina
Out of State Driver's License or Non-driver ID
Valid US Passport
Valid North Carolina Voter Photo ID card, issued by board of elections
Voters who vote by mail will be asked to include a photocopy of an acceptable ID inside the photo ID envelope that comes with their ballot. If they are unable to include a photocopy of their ID, they may complete an ID Exception Form with the absentee ballot return envelope.
Witness / Notarization Requirements
An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE the following in order to be counted:
Two Witness Signatures: Witnesses Must Be At Least 18 Years Old
Notarization
Exceptions apply for voters with disabilities. Any person may help request or return a ballot for disabled voters. Disabled voters can receive assistance filling out their ballots by a helper who is at least 18 years old. For voters in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or adult care home ONLY: a candidate may witness your ballot if you requested their assistance due to a disability. Please contact your local election official with questions.
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Am I Registered?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Vote In Honor of a Veteran
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines
North Carolina Federal and State Elections
Tue Mar 3, 2026 - North Carolina Congressional Primary Election
Voter Registration Deadline
Received byMon Mar 2, 2026 5:00PM
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
Received byMon Mar 2, 2026 5:00PM
Absentee Ballot Return Deadline
- Email or Fax by
Tue Mar 3, 2026 - Postmarked by
Must be received by the county board by 5 pm on the 10th day after the election (end of county canvas)
Tue Mar 3, 2026 12:05AM
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
Photo ID is not required for military or overseas voters who vote using special absentee voting procedures that federal law makes available for such voters
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
Photo ID is not required for military or overseas voters who vote using special absentee voting procedures that federal law makes available for such voters
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |