New to voting?  
​Welcome!

Registered already?  
​Scroll down.

Step 1: Are you eligible to vote in North Carolina?
To register, you must be a US citizen who will be at least 18 years old by Election Day, not serving a felony sentence, including probation or parole. 

Step 2: Register to vote.
Want to see a video walkthrough of registration? The League of Women Voters have you covered.

• ​If you have an NC driver's license or DMV-issued ID, you can register online via the DMV. It's free. For info on that, go here. ​ 
• If you'd rather mail or email an application to the Mecklenburg Board of Elections (BOE), learn how and download the form here. ​
• Your registration must be postmarked or delivered to the BOE at least 25 days before the first election in which you plan to vote. (For 2020, that's Friday, Oct. 9!). If you MISS that deadline, you can register and vote on the same day at an Early Voting site in your county. (See "Where can I vote" section below.)

Step 3: Read the rest of this page to learn more about how to vote. ​

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Are you sure your voter registration is still good?

Check your voter registration status/info, and if necessary, update it! Here's the State Board of Elections link you'll need. Then come back here to answer your other questions!

TIP: You don't have to re-register every time you vote, but you do if you move, change your name, or finish a felony sentence. ​

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Where do I vote?

During early in-person voting, AKA One-Stop Absentee Voting, you can vote at any of the One-Stop Voting locations throughout Mecklenburg. You will be able to find a list of those on the Board of Elections website but probably not until late September.

Set yourself a reminder NOW to check dates, times, and locations before voting early, because they could change due to pending lawsuits!

On Election Day (Nov. 3, 2020), you vote at your POLLING PLACE, a set place where all residents of your voting precinct can vote on Election Day. Find out yours here. Enter your info, click on your name, then click on "Election Day Polling Place." 

How do I find out who's running?

You can find a list of 2020 Democratic candidates on the homepage of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party (here). If you enter your address at Votesmart.org, you can see info about your representatives and some candidates. You can also research them via local media outlets.

​The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections also has a list of ALL candidates that also contains links to some of their websites and social media. 

How can I vote?

Vote "Absentee" by mail.

Any registered NC voter can request and receive an absentee ballot by mail. The Mecklenburg BOE must receive your request before the last Tuesday prior to an election.

You can send in a form NOW to have a ballot mailed to you in September for this November's election.  Here's the form and instructions. You can take a picture of your completed form and email it to absentee@mecklenburgcountync.gov or mail or fax it it. Make sure to SIGN and DATE the form! 
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Benefits to this method:

• You can vote from home at your own leisure.
• You will receive a ballot in the mail and can take your time to look over the candidates and research them before voting.
• If you change your mind and decide to vote in person, you simply destroy the ballot that was mailed to you.

Vote "Absentee" in person.

Any Mecklenburg County voter can choose to vote in person before Election Day during One-Stop Absentee Voting. 

​Benefits to this method:

• You have more dates and times besides Election Day (Tuesday, November 3 this year) to cast your ballot - more flexibility!
• You'll get voting out of the way and not have to miss your chance if something unexpected comes up on Election Day.
• You can vote at ANY Early Voting Site, but if you vote on Election Day you must go to your own specific polling location. If you work far from home on Tuesdays, Election Day voting may be less convenient.
• If you missed the deadline to register to vote, you can register and vote on the same day at One-Stop locations during voting hours.
• You can bring a friend or relative who isn't registered yet or hasn't voted and avoid long Election Day lines.

BALLOT: a device used to cast votes. Paper ballots will be used for absentee by mail. 

Vote in person on Election Day.

Election Day this year will be Tuesday, November 3. Some people prefer to vote on Election Day, even if there are long lines. We hope there WILL be lines this year due to so many who are excited to vote!
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​If you choose to vote on Election Day, MAKE A PLAN. 

• Where is your polling location? Find out here.
• What time of day will you vote? Will your employer give you time off if necessary?
• Will you drive, walk, get a ride? Are there friends or relatives you can bring to the polls to make it more fun and share transportation?
• Do you know yet who will be on your ballot? The Mecklenburg Democratic Party will publish a "Blue Ballot" of candidates' names, but you may want to learn a bit about the people you'll be voting for.

For One-Stop and Election Day voting, our county bought new voting machines this year - here's a video the Meck BOE made about them.

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What about accessibility?

• NC voters can vote in a vehicle "curbside" because of age, physical disability, or physical barriers which prevent a voter from entering the voting enclosure without physical assistance. Sites will have signage for curbside voting.
• NC law allows a voter to have an immediate family member help them get in and out of a voting booth and prepare a ballot. Depending on physical ability or lack of literacy, a voter may be allowed to have a non-family helper of their choice (more info here).
• Federal and state requirements mandate that voting systems be equipped for voters with disabilities. Every voting precinct and every One-Stop Absentee site is required to have at least one accessible machine.
  
• The State Board of Elections welcomes feedback about their systems at (866) 522-4723 or elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov.

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OK, I'm gonna vote - but what else can I do?

If you want to volunteer to help get other voters energized, please contact us! It takes inspiration, motivation, and transportation to get people to the polls. There are all kinds of ways you can help - whatever fits your availability and personality!  Our contact info is listed below if you have questions, or you can fill out our volunteer form.

Also - the elections process will take a lot more people helping this year due to COVID-19. The NC Board of Elections is hiring poll workers. You can apply here.