SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Absentee ballots will start being mailed to North Carolina voters this week as the 2024 election is less than two months away.
READ MORE: RFK Jr. sues NC elections board to be removed from ballots as presidential candidate
Port City Daily has put together a few reminders for voters ahead of Election Day, Nov. 5, including how to access sample ballots, deadlines to submit early votes, and where and when to register.
The media outlet will also begin running candidate questionnaires in the next few weeks, so check back to learn more about the issues from those seeking positions in the local races. The paywall will be dropped on the Q&As as well.
Sample ballots
There are roughly 2,000 different ballots statewide this year, so depending on district and county, it’s important to know ahead of time what to expect when casting a vote.
Sample ballots can be accessed here and allow voters the opportunity to properly become familiar with candidates.
Also on this year’s ballot, regardless of district, voters will sign off on a constitutional amendment change.
The language on the ballot states:
“Constitutional amendment to provide that only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and otherwise possessing the qualifications for voting shall be entitled to vote at an election in the State.”
It will require a “for” or “against” vote.
This amendment was brought forth earlier this summer, first presented by Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly. Some members said they heard about municipalities in other states allowing noncitizens to vote.
North Carolina law already requires residents to be citizens to vote and federal law has criminalized noncitizens to cast ballots in elections. However, the measure was supported in a bipartisan fashion; only four Democrats voted against it in the Senate, compared to 12 in the House.
Opponents have argued its inclusion is a stunt by conservatives to drive more people to the polls and drum up anti-immigration conspiracies.
If passed, it will change the North Carolina Constitution to clarify citizens-only voting by striking the language: “Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized…” to “Only a citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age…” can vote.
Voter registration
Individuals looking to vote this election year can check registration here ahead of going to the polls. Aside from learning one’s voter status, the information provided will include polling location on Election Day, voting districts, the sample ballot and all previous voting history.
Anyone not registered to vote — or who needs to update registration — can do so here. Online and snail mail registration is open until Oct. 11.
However, same-day registration is open during the early voting period, which begins Thursday, Oct. 17, and closes Saturday, Nov. 2. A voter needs to provide an approved form of ID and proof of where they live to register at any polling site; they can then cast a ballot.
All early voting sites can be accessed here.
Registration is not available on Election Day.
Voter ID
It is North Carolina law to provide a voter ID in order to cast a ballot.
Identifications that are accepted include a driver’s license, military ID, passport, tribal cards, and some university IDs and employee IDs. See all the acceptable IDs here.
However, if a voter does not have an ID, she or he can still cast a ballot, but an ID Exception Form has to be turned in as well. This applies to an absentee ballot voter as well, in the event he or she is unable to include a copy of the photo ID when returning it in the appropriate envelope. Reasons for exceptions can be found here.
Free IDs are provided by all 100 county boards of elections.
Absentee ballots
Absentee ballots will begin to be mailed Sept. 6, as mandated by state law — to be sent 60 days before Election Day. The absentees can be requested here and the deadline to ask for one is Tuesday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. — one week before Election Day.
The deadline is extended for some voters. Military and overseas voters can request an absentee ballot until 5 p.m. the Monday before Election Day, while visually impaired voters can complete and return absentee ballots until 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Remember: Ballots, whether absentee or otherwise, cannot be photographed or videographed by law.
Curbside voting
Voters with a disability or medical condition who cannot enter the polls, whether on Election Day or during early voting, can take advantage of curbside voting.
It’s open to people facing physical or mental disabilities, someone who is ill, or has agoraphobia, as well as anyone with medical conditions that would put them at risk of contracting Covid-19.
Poll workers will help voters cast their ballots from their vehicles. Some sites may also have a walkup location in addition to drive-up area. Signs will direct voters where to go.
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