Early Voting Is Open in North Carolina Through October 31. How to Register and Vote the Same Day, and What to Ask About Hemp.

In-person early voting for North Carolina's November 3 general election began on October 15 and runs through Saturday, October 31. During this period, you can vote at any early voting site in your county, and if you missed the October 9 registration deadline, you can still register and vote at the same visit. If you plan to vote by mail, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 20.

This guide covers the dates, what to bring, how same-day registration works and what is on the ballot. It also explains why this election matters for North Carolina's hemp debate and suggests questions you can ask candidates. CBHD does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party. This article is for general information, and the North Carolina State Board of Elections is the official source for voting rules.

Key Dates for the November 3 General Election

• October 15 to October 31: in-person early voting. Early voting ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Days and hours vary by site and county.

• October 20, 5 p.m.: deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail.

• November 3, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Election Day. Polls are open statewide during these hours, and you must vote at your assigned polling place.

• November 3, 7:30 p.m.: deadline for your county board of elections to receive your completed absentee ballot. If returning it by mail, do not rely on the postmark. The ballot must arrive by the deadline.

The regular registration deadline was 5 p.m. on October 9, according to the State Board of Elections. Same-day registration during early voting is the remaining option for most people who are not yet registered.

How to Find an Early Voting Site in Your County

During early voting, you can vote at any early voting site in the county where you are registered. You can find locations and hours with the State Board's early voting site search. Because schedules differ by county, check the hours for your site before you go, especially on weekends and the final Saturday.

Early voting works differently from Election Day. On November 3, you must vote at the polling place assigned to your address. You can look up your registration, your Election Day polling place and your sample ballot through the State Board's voter search tool.

How Same-Day Registration Works During Early Voting

Same-day registration is available only during the early voting period. It is generally not available to most voters on Election Day. According to the State Board of Elections, people who live in a county but are not yet registered there can register and vote at the same early voting site. You must meet the usual eligibility requirements and must have lived in the county for at least 30 days before Election Day.

What to bring for same-day registration

You will need a document that shows your current name and address. Accepted documents include:

• A North Carolina driver's license

• Another photo ID issued by a government agency that shows your current name and address

• A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing your name and address

• For college students, a school document showing your name and residential address, such as an invoice, transcript or a printout or screenshot from a student portal

You will also fill out and sign a voter registration form, which is available in English and Spanish. Same-day registrants are asked to show an acceptable photo ID as well. If the document you used to register was an approved photo ID, such as a driver's license, you can use it for both. If your proof of residence document is not itself an approved voting photo ID, bring a separate acceptable photo ID as well.

What happens after you register

Within two business days, the county board of elections verifies your driver's license or Social Security number and begins confirming your address by mail. Your ballot will be counted unless the county board determines you are not qualified to vote under state law.

If you moved within your county

If you are already registered and moved within the same county, you can update your address when you check in at an early voting site. You can also update your name there if it has changed.

Photo ID Rules at the Polls

North Carolina voters are asked to show photo ID when they check in. According to the State Board's voter ID page, accepted forms include:

• A North Carolina driver's license or state ID card from the DMV

• A U.S. passport or passport card

• A voter photo ID card from your county board of elections

• An approved college, university or government employee photo ID

• A military or veterans photo ID, or a tribal enrollment card with a photo

• A driver's license or ID from another state, but only if you registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election

Most IDs can be used if they are unexpired or expired for one year or less. Voters 65 or older can use an expired ID if it was unexpired on their 65th birthday. If you do not have an acceptable ID, you can still vote by completing an ID Exception Form for a reason such as a reasonable impediment, a religious objection to being photographed or a recent natural disaster. In person, that means casting a provisional ballot. Registered voters can get a free voter photo ID from their county board of elections. However, people registering for the first time in a county cannot receive that card at the same visit as their same-day registration.

What Is on the November 3 Ballot

Every North Carolina voter will see federal and state races on the ballot. According to the State Board of Elections, the general election includes:

• One U.S. Senate seat and all 14 U.S. House seats

• All 50 seats in the North Carolina Senate and all 120 seats in the North Carolina House

• One seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court and three seats on the Court of Appeals

• Local judges, district attorneys, sheriffs, county commissioners and school board members, plus municipal races in some areas

• Three proposed state constitutional amendments covering a 3.5 percent cap on the state income tax rate, limits on local government property tax increases, and a proposed constitutional photo ID requirement for voters, as explained by WUNC

Your sample ballot in the voter search tool shows exactly which races and candidates you will see.

Why This Election Matters for North Carolina Hemp

Every seat in the General Assembly is on the ballot, and the General Assembly decides how North Carolina regulates hemp-derived THC products. The main hemp bill, HB 328, titled "Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumables," is still waiting in the House. The Senate adopted its conference report 37 to 6 on July 2, and the House re-referred it to its Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee on July 30. The conference report includes a proposed minimum age of 21 and a proposed 0.4 milligram per container limit.

Under the legislature's adjournment resolution, the House is scheduled to return on October 26, before the election, and again in November and December, although no vote on HB 328 has been scheduled. We explained those windows in our report on when HB 328 can come up next. Meanwhile, federal hemp changes are scheduled for November 12 and December 11, as covered in our guide to what changes on those dates.

Public opinion is also part of the debate. An Elon University Poll of North Carolina adults, conducted August 21 to 31, found that 53 percent supported allowing hemp-derived THC products such as seltzers and gummies, 28 percent said they should be prohibited and 19 percent were unsure. The same poll found 82 percent support for banning sales of hemp-derived products to anyone under 21. We covered the full results in our Elon poll report.

Many candidates have not stated detailed positions on hemp. Our earlier review of where 11 incumbents stand on hemp, based on their answers to a campaign questionnaire, found broad agreement on keeping intoxicating products away from minors, but different views on licensing, taxes and oversight. Direct questions from voters can help fill in the rest.

Questions to Ask Candidates About Hemp

Candidate forums, town halls, emails and phone calls are all good ways to ask where candidates stand. These questions are neutral and work for candidates of any party:

1. Do you support HB 328 as currently written, including the proposed 0.4 milligram per container limit? Why or why not?

2. Should North Carolina set its own rules for hemp-derived THC products, such as age limits, lab testing, labeling and licensing, before the federal changes take effect on December 11?

3. Would you support a minimum age of 21 for hemp-derived THC products?

4. How would you protect North Carolina hemp farmers and small businesses while addressing safety concerns?

5. How should the General Assembly use the recommendations of the Governor's Advisory Council on Cannabis, which is due to report by December 31?

Asking every candidate the same questions makes their answers easier to compare. If you share a candidate's answer, quote it accurately and note where and when it was given. For the latest on the council's work, see our report on its first public safety draft.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does early voting end in North Carolina?

Early voting ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Can I register and vote on the same day in North Carolina?

Yes, but only during the early voting period. You must register at an early voting site in the county where you live and bring a document that shows your current name and address. Same-day registration is generally not available on Election Day.

Do I need a photo ID to vote in North Carolina?

Voters are asked to show an acceptable photo ID. If you do not have one, you can complete an ID Exception Form and vote a provisional ballot. Registered voters can get a free voter photo ID from their county board of elections, but not at the same visit as a first-time registration in that county.

Can I vote at any early voting site?

You can vote at any early voting site in your county. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.

Is hemp on the ballot in North Carolina?

No statewide hemp measure is on the ballot. However, all 170 seats in the General Assembly are, and the General Assembly decides state hemp policy, including the future of HB 328.