Overview
This page details registering to vote or updating your voter registration by mail-in application. To learn about the online voter registration application, visit Complete Your Registration Online Through the DMV. Read about the ways to register to vote at How to Register.
Voter Registration Deadline
- The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is 25 days before Election Day.*
- Read more: Voter Registration Deadlines.
- Find details about the next election: Upcoming Election.
- If you missed the voter registration deadline, you may still be able to register and vote or make changes (except for party affiliation) to your voter registration and vote during the early voting period.
- Find out more: Register in Person During Early Voting.
*The deadline differs for military and overseas citizens.
Uses for the Mail-in Application
If you are a North Carolina resident, you may use the voter registration application to:
- Register to vote.
- Update your name.
- Update your address.
- Update your party affiliation.
How to Submit Your Application
- Download and complete the appropriate voter registration application. Make sure to complete all required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign the application (ink to paper). If you are a new registrant, you must submit the original application by mail or in person. If you are an existing registrant in the county and are using the form to update your information, you may also fax or email the signed form.
- Mail the form to your county board of elections.
Failure to complete a required field will slow your registration.
Voter registration applicants must provide, on their registration form, an identification number required by federal law: a DMV-issued ID number or, if they do not have one, the last four digits of their Social Security number. If they lack both of these numbers, they must check a box on the form confirming that. The registration form cannot be processed without this required information.
If the application is complete and you meet all qualifications to vote, the county board of elections will mail you a voter registration card. This mailing is non-forwardable and serves to verify your address. If the U.S. Postal Service returns a card as undeliverable, a second mailing will be sent. If the second mailing is returned as undeliverable, the voter registration will be denied.
If you submit your application form before the voter registration deadline for the next election, you should receive your voter registration card within two weeks. Contact your county board of elections if you do not receive your voter registration card.