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Information for students about voting in the November general election

Several resources are available to help Carolina students prepare for the Nov. 3 election.

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The recent move to remote instruction and to de-densify campus may have raised some questions for students about how to register and vote in the Nov. 3 election.

Here is what Carolina students need to know:

Wherever you’re living, you can still register and vote

No matter where you live, you can register to vote and request an absentee ballot. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has information for students living in North Carolina. Living out of state? Find non-partisan information about registering and voting in your state at ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

Register to vote with no fee, no paper and no stamps

You can submit your voter registration application online at no charge through the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Once the application is complete, the DMV sends it to the Board of Elections for processing. Learn more at the DMV website and submit a voter registration application through the My NCDMV website. Don’t worry about the “payments” in the URL – the is no fee to register. Get more information on how to register.

If you’re not a DMV customer, you can simply print, complete and return the voter registration application by Oct. 9 to vote by mail or in-person on Election Day. Information on registering to vote can be found at https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering

Students can also register and vote at any of early voting site from Oct. 5 to 31. Proof of residency is required. More information on voting early in Orange County can be found on the county’s website.

Request an absentee ballot and have it mailed wherever you are in North Carolina

If your housing situation has changed, you can still request an absentee ballot and have it sent to the address of your choosing. The State Board of Elections hosts an online absentee ballot request portal at the North Carolina Board of Elections website. Starting Sept. 4, county boards of elections will begin to send ballots to voters who requested them. Find more guidance for students at the North Carolina State Board of Elections and at the Orange County government website.

Key dates to remember

  • Oct. 9: Regular voter registration deadline (registration will be available during early voting)
  • Oct. 15: Early voting begins
  • Oct. 27: Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail
  • Nov. 3: Election Day