10 Tips for In-Person Early Voters in North Carolina

North Carolina’s 17-day, in-person early voting period begins Thursday, October 15, and ends Saturday, October 31.

The State Board of Elections offers the following 10 tips for early voters:

1. Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. For sites and hours, use the One-Stop Early Voting Site Search. All 100 counties will offer weekend voting options throughout early voting.
2. Sample ballots are available through the Voter Search tool. For more information on judicial candidates, view the State Board’s 2020 Judicial Voter Guide. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot will help your voting experience go more quickly.
3. Individuals who missed the regular voter registration deadline may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting. Individuals who missed the regular voter registration deadline may not register to vote by mail. Their only option at this point is to register in-person at an early voting site in their county.
4. Voters are strongly encouraged to wear masks, use hand sanitizer and adhere to social distancing guidelines at the polling place. For more COVID-19 precautions at voting sites, visit Voting and Coronavirus.
5. Voters who receive an absentee ballot by mail may deliver their completed ballot to an election official at an early voting site in their county. Ballots will be kept securely and delivered to the county board of elections for processing.
6. Voters who requested an absentee ballot but have not yet returned it may vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day, November 3. Voters may discard the by-mail ballot and do not need to bring it to a voting site.
7. To avoid long lines, voters should keep in mind that the busiest early voting days typically are the first and last days of early voting. Voters may find shorter lines during regular business hours.
8. The State Board asks that all voters respect the rights of others to participate in the election. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
9. Voters at one-stop early voting sites are entitled to the same assistance as voters at a voting place on Election Day. Curbside voting is available for eligible individuals at all early voting sites. For more information, visit Curbside Voting. 
10. North Carolina law prohibits photographing or videotaping voted ballots. Voters may use electronic devices in the voting booth to access a slate card or candidate information, provided they don’t use the devices to communicate with anyone or take photographs of their ballot.

For more information about early voting, please visit Vote Early in Person. 

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