Register to vote by October 11 (although you can register to vote during early voting too)

As we prepare for the November, 2024, election, you might have questions about registering to vote, voter ID, or absentee (mail-in) ballots. Read on for information on all these topics.

Register online to vote

North Carolina allows you to apply online to register to vote. If you know someone who is new to the state, who is just turning 18, or just hasn’t registered to vote yet, please share this information. There are some cases where people might think they are not eligible to vote, but are.

You can also update your address or change your party affiliation online.

Voter registration applications must be submitted at least 25 days before an election. The deadline is Friday, October 11, 2024. However, although you may still register to vote in person using same-day registration in your county during the early voting period, which starts October 17, 2024.

If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can look up any North Carolina voter here.

Registering online to vote makes it easier than ever to get started having a say in our government.

Go here and click on the button that says “Go to Voter Registration Application.” The service is offered through NC Department of Transportation. It’s a little bit confusing, because it seems like you will have to make a payment, but you do not. You will need to create an account with myNCDMV if you don’t have one already.

Photo ID for voting

You need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina.

Acceptable IDs are the following, either 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
College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (More info here)
State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections

Other acceptable IDs, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government
Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government
ID card issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (but only if it includes a photo)

How to get a free ID card

If you don’t have an acceptable photo ID, you can get a free voter ID from your county board of elections.

Visit your county board of elections during business hours. No documents are needed. Provide your name, date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number, using the form that the county board of elections will have. Then get your picture taken. More info here.

You can not get an ID this way between the end of early voting through the end of Election Day, so don’t delay too long.

Find the contact information for your county’s board of elections office.

Board of Elections office contact information for Charlotte area counties:

You can also get a free photo ID from the NC DMV, but it sounds tougher. First of all, not everyone is eligible for a free ID. Plus, you have to go to the DMV, which can be a trying and lengthy experience.

If you’re not eligible for a free ID from the DMV you can get a Non-operator’s ID Card for $16.75. More info here.

How to get a mail-in absentee ballot

The next election is a General Election, which takes place on November 5, 2024. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. If you’re a Mecklenburg County resident, you can find a great deal of information at vote.mecknc.gov, including checking your registration, looking at a sample ballot (when available) updating your voter registration, requesting a mail-in ballot, checking on your ballot and more.

If you’d like to request a mail-in ballot, you can request one now. The portal is open. Absentee ballots will begin being mailed on September 6, 2024.

You can request your mail-in ballot online. If you’d like your ballot to be sent to an address other than your residence, you can do that.

Starting 30 days before the election, you can track your ballot’s status from printed to accepted by signing up online for status notifications through BallotTrax.

Register online to vote

Photo ID for voting

How to get a free ID card

How to get a mail-in absentee ballot

Member of the Living on the Cheap Network