Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11 of the form MUST be completed before it can be processed by the State Board of Elections. Many, but not all, of these items are marked with red (Required). People most often leave out the eligibility check boxes at the top (Section 1), Date of Birth and ID or Social Security number (Section 3), and Signature & Date (Section 11).
Section 1: Begin with the first two boxes about being a U.S. citizen and being at least 18 years old by Election Day. U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old on the day of the General Election check both boxes. The third checkbox is to pre-register 16- and 17-year-olds. Enter the pre-registrant’s DOB on the appropriate line (Section 3), and their registration will be processed once they turn 18 years old.
Section 2: Ask people to print their name as it appears on the Driver’s License or Social Security Card referred to in Section 3. This will make the matching (verification) process go more smoothly.
Section 3: The NC State Board of Elections requires new registrants to include their date of birth and complete one of the following options in Section 3 on the voter registration form: 1) Provide NC Driver’s License or NC DMV ID number OR 2) Provide the last four digits of Social Security number or 3) Check a box that states they do not have a NC driver’s license/ DMV ID number or social security number. If the registrant does not provide their license number or the last four digits of their SSN and does not check the box stating they do not have either, the County Board of Elections cannot process the voter registration form. If the registrant does check the box that states they do not have a driver’s license/DMV ID or Social Security number, they must provide a copy of a current utility bill bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows their name and address when presenting to vote for the first time.
Section 4: This must be your home street address, not a P.O. Box number. Include any apartment number.
Section 5: Provide a mailing address if the mail is not delivered at the address in Section 4 or if the voter uses a different permanent address (like a student, member of the military, or a person who does not have a home address).
Section 6: This section allows those without a physical address to show on a map where they typically live or sleep. Registrants must still provide a mailing address in Section 5.
Section 7: Filling in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity helps monitor the election process to ensure that it is not biased against any class of voters. These items are optional.
Section 8: If a party is not marked, the Elections Board will list the voter as “Unaffiliated” (no party affiliation). In NC, Unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote in the primary election of either political party.
Section 9: Use this section to cancel a previous registration. Some people can’t remember all parts of their previous address, but at least list the county where they were registered.
Section 10: Ask everyone for their phone number and email address; it is used by the Board of Elections to timely contact the registrant about missing information.
Section 11: “I attest:” The registrant must personally sign/date the form after reading the items. (Someone convicted of a felony anywhere can register in North Carolina after finishing their sentence, including probation, post-release supervision, and parole.)
Deliver or mail the forms to the County Board of Elections office within 7 days of completion and at least 25 days before the election. Turn in all of the forms, even if some sections are not completed.
Updated July 2024.