Voting

Students and employees are encouraged to become registered and educated voters. Find information voting information relevant to the UNCSA community below. 

Photo ID

Voters will be asked to show a photo ID when voting in North Carolina, starting with the 2023 municipal elections. Many types of identification – including driver licenses, U.S. passports, and state-approved student/public employee IDs – will be accepted.
 
This past summer, the North Carolina State Board of Elections approved 99 student and public employee voter IDs, including UNCSA’s, for the 2023 municipal elections and 2024 primary and general elections. That means all UNCSA students and employees may use their UNCSA photo IDs when voting. Newly approved cards will remain valid for use as a voter’s photo ID through Dec. 31, 2024.
 
If voters do not have an accepted photo ID, they can get one for free at a local N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles office, or from their local county board of elections office.
 
However, all voters can vote without ID with a Photo ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot. The same is true for all absentee voters. Voters who vote by mail will be asked to include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID when returning their ballot by mail. Learn more about Voter ID at the N.C. State Board of Elections website.

College students

If your home is in the community where you attend school, you may register to vote at your address while in school. If you plan to return home after college, either within North Carolina or in another state, you should remain registered in your hometown. You can request to vote by mail on the State Board of Elections website, or by submitting a completed and signed form to your county board of elections by mail or in person. You will receive a ballot and envelope in the mail in order to mail your ballot to your county board of elections.

Registration and early voting

The voter registration deadline is 25 days before the election; however, voters can still register at an early voting site during the 17-day early voting period before Election Day.
 
The early voting period for the November municipal elections in North Carolina begins on Thursday, Oct. 19, and will run until Nov. 4. In North Carolina, during early voting, voters can bring their ID and proof of address and can register and vote at the same time at any early voting polling place. Learn more about registering to vote at the N.C. State Board of Elections website.

Voters should check their county board of elections website or vote411.org for polling place locations, sample ballots and candidate information.

Guides and resources

If you have questions, look in the FAQs or browse these PDF's and websites:

• College Student Infosheet
• Voter PhotoID Requirement Infosheet
• Campus Votes Project
• Forsyth County Board of Elections
• Can I Vote (National Association of Secretaries of State)