CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There is a wealth of information out there to help people register to vote, and it's important to review each state's voter registration deadlines, voting options and requirements on election day. These may have changed since the last election.
WCNC Charlotte rounded up some helpful resources for people that can assist in registering to vote or checking your voting status.
Voter registration status
- Confirm you are registered to vote
- Check your voter registration information
- Visit this website and choose "voter registration status"
- Choose your state. You will be taken to a page on your state's election website
- Do you need to re-register or change your registration?
- If you've moved in-state or changed your name, you'll need to update your voter registration (make sure your state-issued ID reflects that change, too)
- If you've moved out of state, you'll need to register to vote in that new state
- NOTE: If you haven't changed your name or moved, you most likely do not need to re-register
- Make sure to check before your state's deadline to vote, which can be up to 30 days before the election
Voting in North Carolina or South Carolina
Voters in North Carolina can access voting resources and deadlines by visiting the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. In South Carolina, voting information can be found on the South Carolina Election Commission site.
When can I vote?
- Absentee-by-mail voting in North Carolina
- Feb. 9, 2024: Voter registration deadline for voting in the primary election
- Feb. 15, 2024: In-person early voting for primary election begins
- Feb. 27, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline for primary election (by 5 p.m.)
- March 2, 2024: In-person early voting for the primary election ends
- March 5, 2024: Primary Election Day
- Sept. 6, 2024: Absentee ballots begin mailing out for general election
- Oct. 11, 2024: The civilian voter registration deadline. After then, only same-day registration during early voting is allowed.
- Any registered voter in North Carolina can request, receive and vote by a mail-in absentee ballot. According to the NCSBE, "no special circumstance or reason is needed." There are two ways to request it:
- Online at the NC Absentee Ballot Portal
- On paper (In English or in Spanish)
- NOTE: Other changes were made recently to absentee ballot submission
- Any registered voter in North Carolina can request, receive and vote by a mail-in absentee ballot. According to the NCSBE, "no special circumstance or reason is needed." There are two ways to request it:
- Oct. 17, 2024: In-person early voting begins
- Nov. 2, 2024: In-person early voting ends at 3 p.m.
- Nov. 5, 2024: Election Day (and the absentee ballot return deadline)
- Absentee-by-mail voting in South Carolina
- NOTE: There are more conditions on who qualifies for voting absentee, all of which South Carolina lists on its website
- Jan. 25, 2024: Deadline to register for the Republican Presidential Primary (Democratic Presidential Primary deadline was Jan. 4)
- Jan. 22, 2024: In-person early voting for Democratic primary election begins
- Feb. 2, 2024: Last day to early vote in the Democratic primary election
- Feb. 3, 2024: Democratic Presidential Primary Day
- Feb. 12, 2024: In-person early voting for Republican primary election begins
- Feb. 22, 2024: Last day to early vote in the Republican primary election
- Feb 24, 2024: Republican Presidential Primary Day
- Oct. 4, 2024: The civilian in-person voter registration deadline
- Oct. 7, 2024: Deadline to register to vote by mail
- Oct. 21, 2024: In-person early voting begins
- Nov. 2, 2024: In-person early voting ends at 6 p.m.
- Nov. 5, 2024: Election Day (and the absentee ballot return deadline)
Where is my polling place?
When voting on Election Day, voters must go to their assigned polling place. This is different than when voting early, where voters can cast their ballot at any early voting site. North Carolina polling places and South Carolina polling places can be found online by entering your residential address.
How do I get people out to vote?
Send them this link where they can find out more about their state or local election office.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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