Frequently Asked Questions

Once sample ballots are available for an election, you can find yours by looking up your voter record. You can also obtain a copy of your sample ballot on our website or by calling our office and asking that we mail one to you. You may mark your sample ballot ahead of time and carry it into the voting booth with you.

The Board of Elections provides a list of filed candidates along with campaign finance information. Please note that our office does not compile additional information about these candidates.  To learn more, you can:

• Check your sample ballot in your voter record to identify candidates on your ballot. 
• Explore alternative sources such as internet searches, social media, local media outlets, and political parties for more insights.

To be eligible to vote in a municipal election, the voter must live in that municipality for at least 30 days before Election Day.

Section 2 of the NC Constitution provides that you must reside in an election district for 30 days preceding an election to be entitled to vote. Because those in unincorporated areas do not reside in a municipal district, they are not eligible to vote in that district.

Yes. Unaffiliated voters in North Carolina may vote in primary elections. Unaffiliated voters may choose to participate in any recognized party's partisan primary, or they may request a non-partisan ballot. However, the voter must choose only one party's primary. Participating in a partisan primary will not affect your status as an unaffiliated voter. The partisan choice does carry over to a second primary if one is called. If you request a non-partisan ballot, you will only vote for those contests that are non-partisan (i.e. judicial contests, referenda, etc.).

Party affiliation only determines what you see on your ballot in a primary election.

Absentee voting is initiated by a request for the ballot. In North Carolina, a voter is not automatically sent a ballot in the mail, it must be requested. Thus, in NC we have absentee voting. Alternatively, vote by mail is a term typically used to describe a system in which all registered voters receive a ballot in the mail.

A provisional ballot is offered to voters when there are questions about:

• a voter's qualification to vote,
• the voter's eligibility to vote in a given election, or
• the voter's eligibility to vote a specific ballot style.

Provisional voting is a mechanism by which a citizen is guaranteed the opportunity to cast a ballot in the event that such questions have been raised. In that case, the citizen is permitted to cast a provisional ballot, which is held aside pending research into the issue to be resolved. Findings are presented to the county board members, who make final determinations. Election results are not finalized until all provisional ballots that are eligible have been included in the total count.

Provisional voting is fail-safe voting. State law mandates that each person who presents to vote be given that opportunity, whether by regular or provisional ballot. In no circumstance will a voter be turned away.