NC Voter registration laws & rules

Voter Registration in North Carolina

Laws and Rules

Who Can Register Voters?• Anyone can register voters even if they

themselves are not yet eligible to vote. No special certification is required.

• Tax-exempt organizations may only conduct nonpartisan voter drives.

• If you accept a completed voter registration form, you must turn it in or you are breaking the law.

Federal Law Requires I.D. to Register

New voters can choose to:• Provide their driver’s license number on the

voter registration form• Provide the last 4-digits of their Social Security

number on the voter registration form• Mail in a copy of an acceptable form of I.D.

with their voter registration form, or• Bring an acceptable form of I.D. when they go

to vote the first time

Acceptable Forms of I.D.

• A Driver’s License or state issued ID• Military ID• Passport• Bank and/or utility statement• Paycheck• Government-issued check, or • Any other government document showing current address

Keep in Mind

• You must have lived at an address for at least 30 days prior to an election to vote from that address.

• Coercing people to register with a particular party is against the law!

• A volunteer can fill out a registration form for someone, but the registering voter MUST sign the form themselves.

Just the Facts, Please• It’s a felony to let someone deliberately

provide false information on a voter registration form.

• It’s also a felony to fraudulently vote.

• Someone who registers and votes using false information is committing two felonies.

People Who are Homeless Can Register to Vote

When registering someone who is homeless (or in between permanent homes) remember:• A residence is the place where a person sleeps or spends most of their time. If that’s a shelter, use that address as their residential address.• If the person’s residence doesn’t have an address, they can draw a map or diagram showing nearby roads or landmarks.• The mailing address can be a PO Box, a local shelter, a church, or any other location where the person receives mail.

People with Felony Convictions Can Register to Vote

• Once all the terms of the sentence are complete (including probation or parole) a person’s right to vote is automatically restored. This is sometimes referred to as being “off paper.”

• But, they will need to register again using the same voter registration form as anyone else.

• People convicted of a misdemeanor never lose the right to vote, even when in jail. While in jail you may vote by Absentee Ballot.

Respect Registration Deadlines• Forms should be turned in or mailed to the

Board of Elections within 7 days of being completed.

• Beware of the 25-day deadline before Election Day. For the 2012 Primary the deadline is April 13th. For the 2012 General Election the deadline is October 12th.

• Recommend Same Day Registration & Voting to voters if the 25-day deadline has already passed.

Your Obligation as a Registrar

If you accept a completed voter registration form, you are legally required to turn it in to the County Board of Elections by the registration deadline.

First Things First

The “Answer First” boxes at the top of the form must be completed in order for the voter registration form to be processed.

If someone answers “No” to the citizenship question, DO NOT allow them to complete the form.

Learn the Rules

• First-time registrants should provide I.D. information (either driver’s license number or the last 4-digits of Social Security number) on registration form.

• If someone is unsure if they have registered before, they should provide I.D. information.

• The form MUST be signed and dated by person who is registering to vote.

Learn the Rules• Encourage registering voters to include

their phone numbers, so that the Board of Elections can call if there are any questions about the form.

• Use a regular registration form to cancel a previous registration at a former address.

Looking for More Info?

We’ve got all the information you need and more at our special elections website:

www.ncelectionconnection.com

The State Board of Elections website is also a great resource:

www.ncsbe.gov