Reality: As soon as you put your ballot in the tabulator, your vote was counted. The uploading of voter history data can take weeks.

Reality: Provisional ballots and absentee ballots received after Election Day but postmarked by Election Day may be added later.

Reality: Your vote does matter. Elections are decided by those who show up. Municipal elections, which can be decided by one vote, take place this fall throughout North Carolina.

Reality: North Carolina registrants weren’t required to provide their date of birth until the 1990s. As a result, election officials would issue a temporary placeholder when the birth date was unknown (1/1/1900 or 1/1/1901).

Reality: Election night, vote counting stops when there are no more votes to count. By-mail ballots that arrive after Election Day and provisional ballots are counted over the next few days.

Reality: The Investigations Division at the State Board investigates potential election law violations and refers cases to prosecutors when warranted by evidence.

Reality: You can only file for one office for an election.

Reality: When you are convicted of a misdemeanor in North Carolina, you do not lose your right to vote, even if you are incarcerated. Incarcerated voters who committed a misdemeanor may cast an absentee ballot.

Reality: Under state law, voting equipment may not be connected to the internet or use wireless access, limiting the possibility of outside interference.

Reality: By North Carolina law, in-person early voting is “absentee” voting, as you voted “absent” of Election Day.

Reality: If you leave a contest blank on your ballot, a vote will not be recorded for that contest ONLY.

Reality: Boards of elections work year-round — prepping for the next election, maintaining voter rolls, helping voters, securing polling places, training poll workers and more.

Reality: North Carolina officials have no evidence of widespread fraud in elections. The State Board Investigations Division investigates alleged violations and refers them to the proper authorities if warranted by evidence.

Reality: College students have options for where they can register and vote.

Reality: Even if you move within the same county, you should re-register to update your address.

Reality: By state law, voting machines may not be connected to the internet, limiting the possibility of cyber interference.

Reality: Absentee-by-mail voting does not inherently favor one party. Each voter has the same opportunity to vote by mail. Any eligible North Carolina voter may vote by mail.

Reality: Unaffiliated voters may participate in a party primary if it is an open primary. Participating in the primary will not change your unaffiliated status.

Reality: County boards of elections purchase the voting equipment of their choice with the approval of county commissioners. Counties are not forced to choose a certain brand.

Reality: Different parties routinely win statewide races in the same year in North Carolina. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won the presidential race, but Democrat Roy Cooper won the governor’s race.

Reality: State law allows the State Board to extend voting hours at sites where voting is interrupted for at least 15 minutes on Election Day. It's fairly common.

Reality: To certify election results, some military, provisional, and absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted after Election Day.

Reality: All provisional ballots found to be eligible are counted for every contest.

Reality: Election officials conducted a series of audits of the 2020 general election and found no evidence of fraud.

Reality: 91 counties are holding elections for one or more municipalities this year. Other municipal elections are delayed until 2022 to allow for redistricting.

Reality: Municipal elections give voters the chance to elect local officials who make important decisions that affect their community, friends, and family.

Reality: Provisional ballots, as well as eligible absentee ballots received after Election Day, are added to results post-election.

Reality: Your vote does matter. Elections are decided by those who show up. Municipal elections, which can be decided by one vote, take place this fall throughout North Carolina.

Reality: If your county/municipality offers early voting, you can register to vote and vote through same-day registration during the early voting period.

Reality: Each voter has an assigned precinct on Election Day.

Reality: When you move within your county, you should complete a change of address.

Reality: There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 general election.

Reality: To register, you must have resided in that municipality or county for at least 30 days before the election.

Reality: To produce a paper trail that can be recounted and audited, all North Carolina voting systems use paper ballots, marked either by hand or with a ballot-marking device.

Reality: Media, political parties and candidates sometimes “call” winners on election night. Election officials never “call” winners, but rather certify results after all ballots are counted, audits conducted, etc.

Reality: In the U.S. all votes are counted, regardless of method — no matter how close the race.

Reality: There is no evidence of any manipulation of North Carolina elections systems. Security precautions are in place, and audits and recounts demonstrate accurate results.

Reality: An “inactive” registrant is still a registered voter. An “inactive” voter may vote in an election, thus removing their inactive status.

Reality: In North Carolina, ballots cast during the early voting period are considered “absentee in person.”

Reality: All offices have candidate requirements.

Reality: Under state law, all voting systems used in North Carolina must use paper ballots, producing a paper trail that can be recounted and audited.

Reality: Many military and overseas voters, as well as provisional voters, would not have their vote counted if counting stopped altogether on election night.