Registering To Vote

Who is eligible to vote in North Carolina?

• You must be a United States Citizen. 
• You must be a resident of North Carolina.
• You must be 18 years old.
• If you are 17 at the time of a primary but will be 18 at the time of the general election, then you can vote in the primary.
• If you are 16 years old, you can complete a registration form but you will not be able to vote at that time.
• If you have been convicted of a felony but have completed your parole/probation requirements, your right to vote will be restored.

How do I register to vote?

• You can print a voter registration application (pdf; will open in a new window) and mail it to the Henderson County Board of Elections. You cannot complete the voter registration process online.
• Registration forms are also available at public libraries and public high schools.
• You can register in person at the Henderson County Board of Elections, which is located at 75 E. Central Street in Hendersonville.
• You can register in person to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at agencies serving people with disabilities (Vocational Rehabilitation Offices, Departments of Services for the Blind, Departments of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Departments of Mental Health Services, and the Employment Security Commission), and at public assistance agencies Departments of Social Services and Departments of Public Health).
• If you change your name, address, or party affiliation, you will need to complete a new registration form.
• If you have a North Carolina Driver License or a DMV-issued ID card, you can now register online or change parts of your voter registration at the North Carolina DOT.  You can change your voter registration address and your party affiliation, but you CANNOT change your name with this online option. To register online, go to https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx
• The voter registration deadline is 25 days prior to an election. If your registration form is not submitted before this deadline, you can still register and vote on the same day during the One-Stop voting period.

How do I choose a political affiliation?

• There are three recognized political parties in North Carolina. They are (in alphabetical order) the Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties.
• If you do not select a party affiliation, you will be registered as an unaffiliated voter.
• Unaffiliated voters will have the ability to choose one ballot to vote on during a primary election. They can choose from the Libertarian, the Republican, or the Democratic ballots. You may also choose to vote with a nonpartisan ballot, which includes only nonpartisan races (e.g., referenda).
• Approximately 3-4 weeks after you submit your registration form, you should receive your voter registration card in the mail.

How can I check to see if I am registered?

• You can check your registration at the NC State Board of Elections (https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/) to find out if you are already registered and to see if your voter information is up to date.