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As a reminder, the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) is sharing information about voting in North Carolina during this election year through blog articles, social media posts, and other channels. Much attention will be paid this year to state primaries, U.S. Congressional races, and state legislative races.

As a nonprofit organization, ASNC does not become directly involved in elections or campaigns, but we do want you to understand your right to vote, how to vote, where to get accurate and up-to-date information, as well as information on voting with disabilities.

There are three ways to vote in North Carolina: from home, in person, and in a facility. North Carolina made changes to legislative districts and to voting laws for absentee voting, and a 2022 court decision made changes to laws regarding voting as a person with a disability. These changes are outlined below.

Voting in general elections

Voting for the North Carolina General Election begins at one-stop early voting sites open across the state on Thursday, October 17, through Saturday, November 2. The General Election Day is Tuesday November 5, and that is the final day to vote.

The General Election determines who will hold elected offices at the state and federal level, including President, Congress, Governor, Council of State offices, the North Carolina General Assembly and many judicial and county offices. You can view the list of offices up for election this election cycle on the State Board of Elections website.

Where do I vote?

Early voting sites, called One Stop Voting locations, and regular voting site locations and hours may differ in your district. Please use the voter search tool below to check your registration and election day polling place.

For Early Voting: Please refer to the State Board of Elections (SBOE) list of One Stop Voting, Early Voting Sites (ncsbe.gov), to find one in your area.

Election Day Voting on November 5: Check your registration and find your polling location for the General Election on November 5, by using the voter search tool on the SBOE website. Note: due to redistricting changes in voting district maps in NC, your district and polling place may have changed. Please check the State Board of elections website or with your local board of elections for district and polling place changes.

How do I register? Can I register and vote the same day?

The deadline to register to vote is 25 days before election day, so for the November general election it is October 11. You can register online or in person at the DMV, or by downloading, filling out, and mailing registration forms available at the State Board of Elections. Your local board of elections may also have forms.

You can register and vote on the same day, but ONLY at one-stop early voting sites. To do so, you must attest to your eligibility to vote by completing the forms and providing proof of residency (photo ID, driver’s license with current address, ID with address, utility bill, bank statement, etc.). Please see the SBOE website for a full list of acceptable documents to prove your identification and residency.

Do I need photo identification to vote?

Yes. Voters in North Carolina must present photo identification to cast a ballot. This includes absentee mail-in voting, in-person voting, and voting if you live in a facility. If you do not have a photo ID, you can get a free photo ID for voting from your local board of elections. For more information about obtaining photo identification, the list of acceptable forms of photo ID and other photo ID information, please see the state Board of elections site https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.

Legal decision supports the rights of people with disabilities to choose who helps them vote

A federal court issued an order in 2022 that struck down state laws barring certain individuals from helping a voter request, complete, or submit an absentee ballot, if that voter needs help due to a disability.

As a result of that order, an absentee (mail-in) voter who needs assistance voting due to a disability generally may receive assistance from any person they choose. The only restrictions are that persons witnessing a ballot must be at least 18 years old and may not be a candidate (unless a person with a disability in a care facility asks a candidate to assist). Voters with disabilities in care facilities may still request and use a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT), but they are not required to do so. They may receive assistance from the staff of the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home where they are a patient or resident. They may also receive assistance from an elected official, political party officeholder, or candidate.

Voting at Home

North Carolina has long allowed for absentee voting by filling out a ballot at home and sending it in to be counted. Absentee mail-in ballots may be requested using a form from the state or county board of elections, which is available on the SBOE website or by written request to your local board of elections using a ballot request form. The ballot request form must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the last Tuesday before the election. For the November general election, the date is October 29. We recommend that you plan ahead: ballots are usually available 50 days ahead of the primary, 60 days ahead of the general election, and 30 days ahead of local elections. https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail/detailed-instructions-vote-mail.

A near relative or legal guardian may request a ballot on behalf of the voter. A near relative is the voter’s spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild. As a result of a legal decision, if you need assistance requesting a ballot due to disability, you may choose ANY person 18 or older to make that request for you.

• Follow the instructions on the form for providing proof of the voter’s information, including a copy of the photo identification for the voter OR information about photo ID exceptions. A full set of instructions and documents can be found on the State Board of Elections website.
• Your ballot must be marked in the presence of two witnesses or one notary public, and then sealed into the container-return envelope (specifically for the ballot). The witnesses must complete the Absentee Application and Certificate on the back of the container-return envelope and sign it. Anyone assisting the voter must sign as well.
• If you are mailing the ballot, be sure to include the correct postage of $1.77. Three forever stamps (73 cents apiece) would cover this postage amount.
• Your ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. There are no longer exceptions to this rule and ballots postmarked earlier but delivered later than 7:30 p.m. will not be counted.
• Ballots must be mailed or delivered by the voter or mailed or delivered in person by a relative or near relative. If you need assistance returning your ballot due to disability, these restrictions do not apply, and you may ask any person you choose to return your ballot.
  • If delivered in person, ballots must be received by the county board of elections no later than 5 p.m. on the date of the election.
  • If mailed, they must be received by the county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on the day of the election.
  • It is also possible to deliver absentee mail-in voting materials to election officials at one-stop voting locations, but you cannot deliver absentee mail–in ballots to voting sites on Election Day, November 5.
  • Again, we urge you to plan ahead. Please see the SBOE website for more details on absentee mail in voting and one-stop voting.
• Please note: By federal law, those living overseas and, in the military, stationed out of the country have other options and other requirements for voting. Please consult the SBOE website for full information about absentee voting and voting for citizens living and working out of the country.

 

Accessible Voting and Voting in a Facility

What if I need assistance to vote? What if I live in a facility and don’t have a relative to request an absentee ballot?

• If you are a person with a disability in a facility, you can request help from anyone of your choice to assist you to request, complete, or submit an absentee ballot, including employees of the facility and elected officials or candidates. People with disabilities residing in a facility can request help from a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT), but it is not required.
• People living in facilities can request help to vote absentee from Multipartisan Assistance Teams (MATs). These impartial groups are available in every county to visit facilities such as nursing homes to assist with mail-in absentee voting, which requires witnesses. Typically, the facility can contact the local board of elections to schedule a visit from the local MAT, but the request must start with the voter/residents, as owners and employees at facilities are often prohibited from becoming involved in the voting activities of their residents. There is a checkbox on the absentee ballot request to ask whether assistance is needed and the name of the facility as well.
• By law, voters can receive assistance from an immediate family member in the voting booth and with ballots. Voters who have physical disabilities, are illiterate, or are blind and prevented by those conditions from getting in or out of the voting booth and filling out a ballot may request assistance from non-relatives (but not union reps, employers, or agents thereof).
• Voting sites should be accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities.
• Voters at all voting locations can also receive help to vote curbside at or in their vehicle if they encounter barriers or have difficulties leaving their vehicle to vote. The voter must swear an oath that they need to vote in this manner, but they are not required to show proof of a condition or disability.

 

Voting in Person

You can vote in person in your district at an early voting site in the weeks leading up to the election day or in-person at your polling place on Election Day. Check with your local board of elections or the State Board of Elections website for information about early voting locations and times. If you plan to vote on Election Day, be sure to check your voting location as some polling places may have changed.

• A reminder that voting sites should be accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities.
• Voters at all voting locations can also receive help to vote curbside at or in their vehicle if they encounter barriers or have difficulties leaving their vehicle to vote. The voter must swear an oath that they need to vote in this manner, but they are not required to show proof of a condition or disability.

 

Have questions about public policy or advocating? Contact ASNC Director of Public Policy Jennifer Mahan at jmahan@autismsociety-nc.org. Read our February 2024 blog on Voting Deadlines and Changes.

 

Elections Resources

NC State Board of Elections: www.ncsbe.gov

To report voting problems by phone:

• SBOE 919-733-7173
• Election Protection 888-687-8683

Disability Rights NC Voting Project: www.accessthevotenc.org

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