by Bridget Knapp
Wait a minute! I thought the election wasn’t until November 5? Yes, but that’s the general election. There’s lots to do before then, like vote in the primary election on March 5, where we decide which candidates we should vote for in the general election. (Take a look at the election calendar).
In the primary election, eligible voters affiliated with any political party are allowed to vote for candidates on their party’s ballot. The deadline to register to vote is on February 9. To learn more about how to register online or in-person at the DMV or by mail, visit the NC State Board of Elections website. To see if you are registered and to view your sample ballot, use the Voter Search Tool. Make sure that your name, address, and party affiliation are correct. If not, you must update it by mail or online before February 9. Unlike in-person early voting, you must be registered to vote in order to vote in-person on Election Day.
In-person early voting starts on February 15. You must show a photo ID to vote. Acceptable forms of photo ID (unexpired or expired for one year or less) include:
- a North Carolina driver’s license
- a U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- a state ID from the DMV (also called a non-operator ID)
- a North Carolina Voter Photo ID card (get it for free by visiting the NCBSE website)
- a college or university student ID that has been approved by the State Board of Elections
- an employee ID from a state or local government or charter school that has been approved by the State Board of Elections
Also, anyone who is 65 or older may use an expired photo ID if it was unexpired on their 65th birthday. More information is available on the NCBSE website.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Email Bridget Knapp