Voting Guide for Students
Information on this page:
- Important Dates
- Qualifications to Vote
- How to Register to Vote
- Updating Your Registration
- Finding Your Polling Place
- Election Day Essentials
- Voting Resources
Important Dates
- Voter registration deadline: October 9
- Early Voting Available: Thursday, October 15, 2020 – Saturday, October 31, 2020
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: October 27
- Absentee Ballot Return Deadline: Tuesday, November 3, 2020
These dates are for NC voting only. Find information from your state here.
Qualifications to Vote
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Live in the county of his/her registration, and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election;
- Be at least 18 years old, or will be by the date of the general election. 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote.
- 17-year-olds may vote in a primary election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election; and
- Not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision. Once an individual has completed a felony sentence or been pardoned, he/she is eligible to register and vote. No additional documentation is needed. For more information on voting rights for those in the North Carolina criminal justice system, click here.
Qualifications may vary by state. Find information by state here.
How to Register
To register to vote in North Carolina:
- Print the voter registration form and complete it.
- Sign the form (ink to paper). You must submit the original form by mail or in-person if you are a new registrant. If you are an existing registrant in the county, you may also fax or email the signed form.
- Mail the form to the county board of elections for the county where you reside. The Cabarrus County Board of Elections address is PO Box 1315, Concord, NC 28026.
Failure to complete a required field will delay the processing of the application.
If the application is complete and you meet all qualifications to vote, the county board of elections will mail you a voter registration card. This mailing is non-forwardable and also serves to verify your address. If a voter card is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as undeliverable, a second mailing will be sent. If the second mailing is returned as undeliverable, the voter registration will be denied.
Voter registration applicants who submit their form before the voter registration deadline for the next election should receive their voter card within two weeks. Applicants should contact their county board of elections if they do not receive their voter card. If an application arrives after the registration deadline, the application will not be processed until after the election
You can register in vote in any state with the U.S. Vote Foundation online.
Updating Your Registration
If you have moved, had a name change, or want to change your party affiliation you need to update your registration.
- Download and complete a new Voter Registration Application with the updated information
- Return the form to the Board of Elections
- A new voter Registration card will be mailed to you
You do not need to bring your voter registration card with you to the polling place on election day.
Finding Your Polling Place
Polling locators by state are available here.
Election Day Essentials
- Go to your polling location.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to vote in the event of long lines.
- Wear a mask to stay safe.
- A photo ID is not required to vote in the state of NC.
Visit your state Board of Elections for more information on voting in your state.