As we near Election Day 2020, we know you might have a lot questions about the voting process. NC Votes covers topics from why to vote to how to vote, and from voting by mail to voting in person on November 3. Watch our light-hearted explainer videos and review our Frequently Asked Questions for all your voting and election-related questions.

Would you let someone else pick your playlist? Choose your clothes? Take over your social media? Of course not! Then why let someone else choose your future? Vote!

Find more information about common voting questions and resources for North Carolina voters in our Frequently Asked Questions.

¿Dejarías que alguien escoja tu música? ¿Qué tal tu ropa? ¿Que tomen el control de tus redes sociales? ¡Claro que no! ¿Entonces, porque dejar que decidan tu futuro?

Do you need a photo ID to vote?

Can you register to vote on the DMV website?

Is voting by mail the same as absentee voting?

Test your own knowledge of North Carolina voting rules in this fun, informative video.

Pon a prueba tu conocimiento de las reglas para votar en este gracioso e informativo video.

¿Necesitas un carne de identificación para votar?

¿Te puedes registrar para votar en el sitio web del DMV?

What could possibly go wrong on Election Day?

This light-hearted short looks at all the things that could happen to keep you from voting on Election Day and encourages early voting to avoid your vote not being counted.

¿Que puede salir mal en el día de elecciones?

Este alegre corto contempla todas las cosas que pueden suceder que eviten que tu votes en el día de elecciones y animan a votar temprano para evitar que tu voto no sea contado.

Funding for NC Votes is provided by

and by
Julia Courtney and Scott Oxford
Susan Oller

September 4
The Board of Elections will begin mailing out requested absentee ballots.

October 15
In-person early voting begins.

October 27
The Board of Elections recommends you mail your absentee ballot by October 27.
Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Board of Elections by October 27 at 5 PM.

October 31
This is the last day for in-person early voting.

November 3
Today is Election Day! You can visit your polling place to vote today!
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3.

November 12
Absentee ballots must be received by November 6 at 5 PM.

How do I register to vote?
The North Carolina State Board of Elections provides a voter registration form that you can print, fill out, and submit by mail.

You can also submit your voter registration online through the Department of Motor Vehicles if you have a valid driver’s license or DMV-issued ID.

Learn more about how to register to vote.

How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status with just your first and last name, using the Voter Search Tool from the State Board of Elections.

Can I register to vote during early voting?
Yes! You can register to vote and cast your ballot in one visit during the early voting period (October 15 - October 31). You will need to prove your residence by providing one of the following items:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• Other photo identification issued by a government agency. Any government-issued photo ID is acceptable, provided that the card includes the voter's current name and address.
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing the voter’s name and address.
• A current college/university photo identification card paired with proof of campus habitation.

You do not need a photo ID to vote, but you can use one of these documents listed to prove your current residence.

Learn more about same day registration.

What is the difference between voting by mail and voting with an absentee ballot?
In North Carolina, voting by mail and voting by absentee ballot are the same process. All absentee ballots are sent by mail, and can be returned by mail or in person.

Learn more about voting by mail.

Can I vote by mail?
All registered voters in North Carolina may request an absentee ballot for the November 2020 general election. You can now request a ballot online through the Absentee Ballot Request Portal.

You can also request an absentee ballot by filling out an absentee ballot request form and returning it to your county board election office.

Learn more about voting by mail.

When is my absentee or mail-in ballot due?
Your ballot may be returned by mail to your county board of elections, postmarked on or before Election Day (November 3, 2020) and received by 5 p.m. on November 6, 2020. You may also drop off your ballot in person during early voting, or on Election Day.

Learn more about how to return your completed ballot.

How do I return my absentee or mail-in ballot?

Your ballot may be returned by mail to your county board of elections, postmarked on or before Election Day (November 3, 2020) and received by 5 p.m. on November 6, 2020. You may also drop off your ballot in person during early voting, or on Election Day.

Learn more about how to return your completed ballot.

Can I drop my absentee ballot off in person?

If you receive an absentee ballot by mail, you may deliver your ballot to an election official during early voting. Be sure to deliver your ballot to an election official while the location is open for voting.

You can find your county’s one-stop voting sites using the One-Stop Site Lookup Tool. If your county’s sites are not listed, check back soon! Sites are added as they are confirmed by each county.

You may also deliver your completed ballot to an election official on Election Day.

Learn more about how to return your completed ballot.

Can I still request an absentee or mail-in ballot?
Yes! The deadline to submit a request for the November 3, 2020 general election is 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 27.

Learn more about how to request an absentee ballot.

When is early voting?
Early in-person voting is available October 15, 2020 - October 31, 2020. During early voting, you may vote at any early voting location in your county.

You can find your county’s one-stop voting sites using the One-Stop Site Lookup Tool. If your county’s sites are not listed, check back! Sites are added as they are confirmed by each county.

Do I need a photo ID to vote?
No! Voters are not required to show photo ID to vote in the 2020 election.

When is Election Day?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Polling places are open between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and any voter in line by 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote. You can find your polling place by your residential address using the Polling Place Search Tool.

You can find more information about your polling place and review a sample ballot using the Voter Search Tool.

Do I need a photo ID to vote?
No! Voters are not required to show photo ID to vote in the 2020 election.

How do I find my polling place?
You can find your polling place by your residential address using the Polling Place Search Tool.

You can find more information about your polling place and review a sample ballot using the Voter Search Tool.

Voter Registration Form
https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register

Absentee Ballot Request Form
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail

Absentee Ballot Online Request
https://votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home

One-Stop Early Voting Sites
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/OSSite/

Polling Place Search Tool for Election Day Voting
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/

Voter Search Tool
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/

More Voter Tools and Forms from the State Board of Elections
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-tools-and-forms

In an election year like no other, we are dedicated to providing North Carolinians with in-depth and thoughtful coverage.

Discover timely and trustworthy political news, from candidate interviews to election night analysis, on UNC-TV and unctv.org.