Registration Deadline

Who can register to vote?

The following are the requirements for registering to vote in North Carolina:

• You are a citizen of the United States of America
• You are 18 years of age, or will be 18 years of age by the date of the next election. You may register to vote if you are 16 years of age or older, and if you’ll turn 18 by Election Day.
• You have been a legal resident in the county where you will vote for at least 30 days before the date of the next election.
• You must not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction (including probation or parole). If a prospective voter has previously been convicted of a felony, their citizenship rights must be restored. For more information on voting rights for those in the North Carolina criminal justice system, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections Registering as a Person in the Criminal Justice System page.

Out-of-State and Non-Local Students

Consider voting in Wake County! If you are an out-of-state student living in Wake County, we encourage you to consider registering to vote and participating in local, statewide and general elections in North Carolina. During your time here as a student, your voice matters in deciding the local policy makers, so we invite you to exercise it here while you’re here!

If you are inclined to vote in your home district rather than in Wake County, consider voting via an absentee ballot. You can find information about it in our Voting Method Options page.

The absentee ballot process is mandated to exist as an option by state and local boards or commissions. Out-of-state and non-local students who are interested in this option are encouraged to check with their location’s board of elections or equivalent office to ensure they are following all policies and procedures for submitting an absentee ballot. In most cases, absentee ballots must be requested weeks prior to the election date — in the 2026 primary election, the deadline is Feb. 17 at 5 p.m., but we recommend you request MUCH earlier to give yourself wiggle room in case any roadblocks come up. Use the helpful tool on the USAGov Absentee voting and voting by mail page to figure out what you need to vote absentee.

How do I register to vote?

The online voter registration application can be used to:

• Register to vote
• Update your voter registration address
• Update your party affiliation

You cannot use the online voter registration application to change your name. There is no fee for online voter registration services. Once the online voter registration application is complete, it is sent to the State Board of Elections.

Physical Registration Outside of Early Voting

All North Carolina residents (including non-customers of NCDMV) can complete an NC voter registration application and mail or hand-deliver it to the North Carolina State Board of Elections or your county board of elections.

If you are a North Carolina resident, you may use the voter registration application to:

• Register to vote
• Update your name
• Update your address
• Update your party affiliation

Instructions are included with the form, but if you would prefer following along a walk-through, the video below uses Ms. Wuf as an example and includes helpful tips.

Register and Vote at an Early Voting Site

Early voting is commonly also called “One-Stop (Early) Voting.” This is because individuals may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. If you plan to register and vote during the early voting period on location, please note the following required documents that you will need to present to a poll worker in order to register and vote:

For more information about the requirements for participating in one-stop early voting, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections Vote Early in Person page.

Last Reviewed On: 7/7/2026