Organizing a Voter Registration Drive

The decision to conduct a voter registration drive is an important one. Voter registration is fundamental to elections and the democratic process. While helping people register to vote is vital, organizers must follow North Carolina law.

Any individual, group, or organization that desires to conduct a voter registration drive may do so. No special training is required. Organizers and participants should carefully follow the requirements as outlined in the Voter Registration Drive Information Chart below.

Find more information, including instructions for requesting applications, below the chart. 

Voter Registration Drive Information Chart

Qualifications to Vote

Per Qualifications to vote (N.C.G.S. § 163-55):

Do

A voter must:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Live in the county of registration and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to an election.
• Be 18 years old or be 18 at the time of the general election, or be 16 or 17 years old to preregister to vote.
• Not be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision, or parole.

For questions about eligibility, the voter should contact their county board of elections.

If in violation: Per Certain acts declared felonies (N.C.G.S. § 163-275), violations of this statute shall be a Class I felony, subject to a fine and up to 24 months imprisonment.

Completing Voter Registration Forms

Per Contents of application form (N.C.G.S. § 163-82.4):

Do

The voter is required to complete the following fields: 

• Citizenship and Age (checkboxes)
• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• NC driver’s license number, and if they don’t have one, the last four digits of Social Security Number (if they lack both numbers, they must check a box on the form confirming that)
• Address (provide a physical and mailing address, if applicable)
• Voter’s Signature – the voter must sign or make their mark.

A voter may receive assistance upon request, but the voter must sign the form.

Do Not

• Do not compensate or be compensated for the number of registration forms collected/submitted. Quota systems in voter registration drives are illegal and subject to a class 2 misdemeanor. Certain acts declared misdemeanors (N.C.G.S. § 163-274(15)).
• Do not tell voters they must re-register to vote. This is incorrect. Refer them to their county board of elections if they have questions about their voting status or eligibility.
• Do not alter the form once the voter has finished marking it. Any incomplete form should be given to the county board of elections as is. Any assistance filling out the form must be in the voter’s presence and must be at the voter’s request.
• Do not coerce a person into marking a party affiliation other than what the voter desires. A voter registration form that has party affiliation pre-marked is only permitted if requested by the voter.
• Do not sell or attempt to sell a completed voter registration form or condition its delivery upon payment.

If in violation: Acceptance of application forms (N.C.G.S. § 163-82.6(a) and (b)) – Violations of this statute shall be a class 2 misdemeanor, subject to a fine and up to 60 days of imprisonment.

Returning Voter Registration Forms

Per Acceptance of application forms (N.C.G.S. § 163-82.6(a) and (b)):

Do

• All voter registration forms — both complete and incomplete — must be sent to the county board of elections in which the voter resides. Please also return unused forms if they are no longer needed.
• Submit completed voter registration forms within 5 business days of receipt but no later than the 25th day before an election.
• Maintain a log of staff/volunteers to easily trace who has collected and submitted which registration forms. Logs should contain the name of the person assigned to a batch and contact information to include a phone number, mailing address, and email.

Do Not

Do not keep, retain or store completed or partially completed voter registration forms in any form for any purpose. It is illegal to retain a voter’s Personal Identifiable Information (PII) unless you are an election official or the information is fully redacted under Certain acts declared misdemeanors (N.C.G.S. § 163-274(16)). This information includes:

• Registrant’s signature
• Partial of full Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Driver’s license number
• Email address
• Identity of the public agency which the registrant registered, per Voter registration at other public agencies (N.C.G.S. § 163-82.20).

If in violation: Per Certain acts declared misdemeanors (N.C.G.S. § 163-274(16)) – Violations of this statute shall be a class 2 misdemeanor, subject to a fine and up to 60 days of imprisonment.