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Frequently Asked Questions


Wake County Board of Elections

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page last updated on 2/07/2008

Q1 I am registered unaffiliated, may I vote in a Primary Election?

Q2 When is the deadline to register to vote in an Election?

Q3 When are the polls open?

Q4 How do I know where to vote?

Q5 I drive by a polling place on my way to work. Can't I just vote there?

Q6 How do I know if my voter registration is up to date?

Q7 What if I moved within Wake County but didn't send an address change before the election?

Q8 What if a voter is unable to enter the polling place because of age or physical disability?

Q9 I will be away on Election Day.  How do I vote by absentee ballot?

Q10 What about the new no-excuse "absentee" voting that I have been reading about?

Q11 My grown son got mail from the Board of Elections at my house. He doesn't live here anymore. Why don't you remove his name from the voter registration books?

 

 

I am registered unaffiliated, may I vote in a Primary Election?

You may register with any political party recognized in the State of North Carolina. Party affiliation determines the primary in which a voter is eligible to vote. You may also register as unaffiliated. If you do not declare a party, you will be registered as unaffiliated. During a partisan primary election, an unaffiliated voter must choose which party ballot he wishes to vote on the day of the Primary.

When is the deadline to register to vote in an Election?

If mailed, the registration form must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election.  If hand-delivered, the registration form must be received at the Board of Elections office no later than 5:15 p.m. on the 25th day prior to the Election.

When are the polls open?

The polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

How do I know where to vote?

When you register or make an address change or information change, or if the Board of Elections assigns you to a new precinct or polling place, the Board of Elections sends you a new voter card. Your voting place (polling place) is printed on the card.  You are assigned a polling place based on the precinct where you live. You may also search with our website voter search utility to determine your registration status and voting location. The voter information there is updated approximately weekly. If you don't know where to vote or if you have moved from the residence address that we have on file, don't wait until Election Day! You may experience a delay in voting if your residence address is not up to date or if we have sent mail to your voter registration address that was returned to us by the Postal Service.

I drive by a polling place on my way to work. Can't I just vote there?

No. You must vote at the polling place for your precinct on Election Day. The precinct officials there will look for your name on a list of all of the voters in the precinct. 

How do I know if my voter registration is up to date?

If you are not sure of the status of your voter registration, call the Board of Elections office at 856-6240, and someone will verify your registration status. You may also search with our website voter search utility to determine your registration status and voting location. The voter information there is updated approximately weekly. 

What if I moved within Wake County but didn't send an address change before the election?

If a registered voter in Wake County has moved within Wake County more than 30 days prior to an election and failed to notify the Board of Elections, it is a violation of the law to vote in his/her old precinct, but the voter may:

    1.  Vote early at a One-Stop location. NC General Statute allows a voter 
          to change their address and vote the correct ballot for their updated address
          when voting at a One-Stop location.

    2.  Vote at your new precinct on Election Day – you may vote a provisional ballot.
 
    Call the Board of Elections for further information.

What if a voter is unable to enter the polling place because of age or physical disability?

If the voter wishes to vote on Election Day, the voter will be allowed to vote outside the polling place. This procedure is called "curbside voting." Look for the "Curbside Voting " sign and park there. The precinct official handling "Curbside Voters" will assist the voter in preparing the necessary paperwork. If possible, having someone enter the voting place and informing the precinct election official that a voter needs to vote curbside is helpful. Or the voter may choose to vote by absentee ballot.

I will be away on Election Day.  How do I vote by absentee ballot?

All registered voters in Wake County may request an absentee ballot by mail or may vote absentee in person (one-stop voting).  Listing an excuse is no longer required.  For more detailed information, click here and read about absentee voting.

What about the new no-excuse "absentee" voting that I have been reading about?

North Carolina Law now allows No Excuse Absentee Voting for all elections.  You may submit a written request to have a ballot mailed to you or vote at designated locations.  Click here and read about Absentee Voting.

My grown son (or married daughter or ex-husband or the person who used to live here…) got mail from the Board of Elections at my house. He doesn't live here anymore; he lives in another state. Why don't you remove his name from the voter registration books?

Reasons for removing voter registration are very specifically outlined in North Carolina General Statute 163.82.14. We cannot cancel a voter's registration just because someone tells us that we should. Voter registration cards are sent first class mail and are addressed to a specific person. Any first class mail that you receive that is not addressed to you should be returned to the postman unopened. You should note on the piece of mail that the person does not live at your address.
Only after two or more such mailings are returned to our office and then after two federal elections have passed may we begin the removal process. Otherwise, we must receive official notice that the voter has registered elsewhere, has died, or has been convicted of a felony before we can remove a voter's registration records.
We may also remove a voter's registration records if we receive a signed written request from the voter. If your son is still on our books, please let him know to notify us that he wishes to be removed. We'll even mail him a form to use if you give us his new mailing address or you may print an address change notification form for him. (He still has to sign the form)