Tuesday is Election Day, when voters will cast ballots in primaries for federal, state, and local races—everything from the U.S. Senate to school boards.
Thousands of voters in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties have already voted early.
In Columbus County, nearly 2,400 voters had cast ballots by midday Friday, according to the local Board of Elections.
Scotland County saw a 42% increase in early voting by midday Friday compared to the 2022 primary, the elections board there said.
Here’s what to know before you head to the polls.
Where Can You Vote?
Residents are assigned an Election Day voting precinct based on the address on their voter registration. Precincts will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. If you are in line to vote by 7:30 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.
To find your precinct, use the N.C. State Board of Elections’ online Election Day polling place search tool.
If you show up at the wrong precinct, you may cast a provisional ballot.
Provisional ballots will be counted after the local county Board of Elections approves them. Residents who vote provisionally can check the status of their ballots through the state Board of Elections’ online provisional search tool 10 days after Election Day.
What Should You Bring?
North Carolina requires that voters show a valid form of government ID, like a driver’s license or passport. The state Board of Elections maintains a list of acceptable forms of ID.
If you forget your ID, you can cast a provisional ballot. Voters who cast provisional ballots without showing ID will be asked to go to their county’s elections board office to show a form of ID by noon on March 6 (the third business day after the election) for their vote to be counted.
Voters who meet certain qualifications can vote without a form of ID by filling out an exception form. These voters will still cast provisional ballots.
You are only eligible for an ID exception in this election if:
- You have a “reasonable impediment” to showing photo ID, including: You could not get an ID, your ID was lost or stolen, you applied for an ID but have yet to receive it, or some other acceptable reason.
- You have a religious exemption to being photographed.
Can You Still Vote Absentee?
If you received your absentee ballot and haven’t yet mailed it to your county elections board, you must drop it off at the office during business hours no later than Tuesday. Only absentee ballots received by county boards by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday will be counted.
Voters can discard their absentee ballots and vote in person on Election Day.
What Primary Can You Vote In?
North Carolina runs semi-closed primaries based on a voter’s registered party affiliation. Registered Republicans must vote in the Republican primary, and registered Democrats must vote in the Democratic primary.
Unaffiliated voters—the largest share of voters in North Carolina and the Border Belt—can choose which primary to participate in. However, they can only participate in a single primary per election cycle.
Who Are You Voting For?
The state Board of Elections provides every voter with a sample ballot through its online voter search tool.
The Border Belt Independent compiled lists of candidates running in Bladen, Columbus, Scotland, and Robeson counties.
When Will Results Be Available?
The state Board of Elections will begin populating unofficial results on its online dashboard once polls close.
Election results will not be certified for several days after the election. County election boards must enter a canvass period to approve provisional ballots, count any remaining absentee ballots, and ensure all votes have been counted correctly.
Pending any close election results or election protests, all county boards will hold a public canvass meeting 10 days after the election to certify the results.
If no candidate meets the threshold to become a party’s nominee, then a second primary will be held on May 12. The state board will update its elections website to show which races require a second primary.