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Keeping North Carolina voters informed
What is Democracy Day?
At Carolina Public Press, we’re not neutral about democracy. It fuels our commitment to serve the public, our belief in empowering an active citizenry — and our protection under the First Amendment to do our jobs. In the face of growing anti-democratic efforts, journalists across the country on Sept. 15 are collaborating on a project called Democracy Day. We’re highlighting both ongoing anti-democratic efforts and what can be done to stop them. This story is part of those efforts.
Democracy Day Reporting
Important Dates
(as of August 9, 2022)
September
Sept. 9: Mail-in ballots mailed
October
Oct. 14: Voter registration deadline for general election.
Go here to register online.
Oct. 20: Early voting (also called “One Stop”) begins.
Go here for a list of One Stop sites.
November
Nov. 1: Deadline to request an absentee mail-in ballot.
Request a mail-in ballot from the N.C. Board of Elections website.
Nov. 5: Early voting (also called “One Stop”) ends.
Go here for a list of One Stop sites.
Nov. 6: Deadline for mailed absentee ballots to be received.
Return absentee ballots by mail or in person to your county board of elections office, or drop them off at an early voting site in your county.
Nov. 8: General election day. Your mail in ballot must be postmarked by 5 p.m.
Go here to look up your polling place.
Nov. 13: Counties canvass the general election, making their vote counts official.
Nov. 16: Deadline to conduct any county recounts.
Nov. 17: Deadline to conduct any state recounts and receive protests.
Nov. 24: State canvasses election results, making the vote counts official.
Figuring out where and when to vote in North Carolina can feel complicated. Here’s a step-by-step guide to review and share.
Registration and Ballot Resources
Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections
Voters can check their registration and absentee by mail ballot status using the NCSBE’s voter search tool.
BallotTrax lets voters track their ballots through the mail and to receive a notification when their ballot is accepted or rejected.
Visit the North Carolina Board of Elections for additional resources.
Voting basics (español)
You’ll soon find an ongoing list of election-related questions here.