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Voter Registration Resources : Who Can Vote?

Information on how to vote & the voter process

The Qualification to be a Registered Voter

Qualifications to Register to Vote

To register to vote in North Carolina, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen.

  • Live in the county where you are registering, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
    • The federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows certain voters who are active duty military or their families as well as U.S. citizens abroad special rights that provide an expedited means to register and vote by mail-in ballot. Find more information on Military and Overseas Voting.
  • Be at least 18 years old, or will be by the date of the general election.

  • Not be in jail or prison for a felony conviction.

Note: An inactive voter is still a registered voter. A voter who is inactive status will be asked to confirm their addresses when they appear to vote. No special document is required.

 

To vote by mail (also known as an absentee ballot), you must request a ballot from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Any voter in North Carolina can request an absentee ballot/vote by mail for any reason. You can request an absentee ballot online or by printing and mailing a paper form (available in both English and Spanish).  

Registering to vote  in North Carolina 

To vote in an election, you must be registered to vote. You can register to vote through the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

If you have a North Carolina drivers license or an ID issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles, you can register to vote or update your registration online.

North Carolina Elections

Statewide Elections

The only statewide elections (meaning elections that every voter in the state can vote in) on the ballot in North Carolina are for an open seat in the United States Senate, two state Supreme Court seats, and four seats on the state Court of Appeals. 

Congressional Elections

You'll also be able to vote for your representative in the US House of Representatives. There are 435 voting members of the US House. Each member represents a district and every state is divided into a certain number of districts based upon their population. This year North Carolina will vote for 14 representatives to send to the US House. You can find the candidates for US House in your district by looking up your sample ballot.

State Legislative Races

North Carolina's state legislature includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unlike the US House and Senate, these legislative bodies do not pass federal/nationwide laws. They pass legislation that pertains specifically to North Carolina. Both the state House and Senate are made up of elected officials who represent districts across the state. As with the US House, the candidates for state legislature on your ballot will vary depending upon the district in which you reside. 

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G.R. Little Library

Elizabeth City State University