If you're new to North Carolina or if you've never voted before but would like to vote in an upcoming election, the first thing you'll need to do is register. The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is 25 days before the day of the election.
To be eligible to vote in North Carolina:
- You must be a US citizen
- You must be 18 years old by the next General Election day
- You must be a North Carolina resident and have lived at your residence at least 30 days preceding an election
- If you have previously been convicted of a felony, you must have completed all parts of your sentence including probation and parole, and then your citizenship rights are automatically restored and you are permitted to register and vote
If you are new to NC, one of the easiest ways to register is to do it at the DMV at the same time you get your North Carolina Driver's license. Additionally, North Carolina offers mail-in voter registration. Voter registration forms are generally available at public libraries and public high schools. While you may obtain a form from these locations, it needs to be mailed to the appropriate county board of elections office.
For most elections, North Carolina also allows residents to register and vote during the One Stop Absentee Voting time period. This period begins the third Thursday before an election and goes through the last Saturday before an election.
Here is more information on registering to vote in North Carolina.