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Are you a student in North Carolina? Make your voice heard by voting in the Presidential and State Primary Election on March 5. Your vote matters and can make a difference in your community and country. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a say in the future of your city.
Voter Registration Deadline: Online or in-person applications must be submitted 25 days before Election Day. Mail application must be postmarked at least 25 days before Election Day.
Eligible voters can also register to vote and cast their ballot at the same time at their early voting location. More information on same-day registration is available at: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register/register-person-during-early-voting.
2026 Election Information
Primary Election: March 3, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
More information on important election-related deadlines is available at https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election and https://www.ncsbe.gov/current-sbe-events.
More election information at: ncsbe.gov
Online voter registration available at: ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx
Mail-in PDF voter registration form available at: ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register/complete-your-registration-mail
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family’s home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
In North Carolina, 16- and 17-year-olds may pre-register to vote, though they may not vote in any election until they are at least 18 years old. For more information on pre-registration, please visit: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/who-can-register/preregistering-vote-when-you-are-16-or-17-years-old.
Online Registration: If you are registering to vote online, you must provide a North Carolina issued driver’s license or ID number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it. Please view the link above for North Carolina’s online voter registration portal.
Paper Voter Registration Application: North Carolina’s paper voter registration form asks for your North Carolina driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
Same Day Registration: If you register to vote using same day registration during the early voting period, you must provide both proof of residency and a photo ID. The following are examples of each type of proof required:
More information about registering to vote during the early voting period is available at ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register/register-person-during-early-voting.
All voters will be asked for ID when voting in person. Most photo IDs must be unexpired or expired for no more than one year. If you vote by mail, you must include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID in the designated photo ID envelope you receive with your ballot. Acceptable photo IDs include:
A full list of acceptable IDs and more information about North Carolina’s voter ID law is available at: ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.
Voters without an acceptable voter ID may fill out an ID Exception Form and cast a provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will be counted if the ID Exception form is approved by your County Board of Elections.
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at: ncsbe.gov/Voters/Voter-Tools
By Mail: All registered voters may request and vote by absentee ballot. You can request your absentee ballot application online or by returning the absentee ballot request form to your county board of elections office.
Blind or visually impaired voters may receive their absentee ballots electronically. More information is available at: ncsbe.gov/voting/help-voters-disabilities/accessible-absentee-voting.
You can find more information about voting by mail and the request forms at: ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail.
Early In-Person: Voters may vote early at a one-stop early voting site in their county. Contact your county board of elections for one-stop voting locations and hours, or visit https://vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have the right to vote.
Curbside voting is available to all one-stop early voting sites and Election Day polling locations for voters who are unable to enter the voting place. For more information on eligibility, visit: ncsbe.gov/voting/help-voters-disabilities/accessible-voting-sites/curbside-voting.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on my Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in North Carolina affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full time student in North Carolina, you may be required to obtain an North Carolina driver’s license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, contact the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed North Carolina legal professional.
Last updated February 2026
Testimony opposing North Carolina SB 747, which would, among other things, impose burdensome identification requirements for those registering to vote and casting a ballot in the same day. (2023)
