Last-minute tips for Charlotte voters: What’s on the ballot, where to vote & need-to-knows
With election day approaching, nearly half of registered North Carolina voters have already cast their ballot in the 2024 general election.
According to the State Board of Elections, more than 3 million people voted in person or by absentee ballot so far.
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. If you want to head to the polls before then, in-person early voting (and same-day registration) can be done through Saturday, Nov. 2.
Whether you plan to vote early or on Election Day, here’s what to know about voting sites in/around the Charlotte area before heading to the polls.
Where can you vote early in Mecklenburg County?
Registered voters may visit any early voting site in their county. There are 33 early voting sites in Mecklenburg County:
Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Rd.
Bank Of America Stadium, 800 S Mint St.
Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center, 2921 Tuckaseegee Rd.
Blakeney Crossing Shopping Center, 9941 Rea Rd # D
Bojangles Entertainment Complex, 2700 E Independence Blvd.
Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.
CPCC Harper Campus, 315 W Hebron St # 1
David B. Waymer Recreation Center, 14008 Holbrooks Rd.
Davidson Town Hall & Community Center, 251 South St.
Eastway Regional Recreation Center, 3150 Eastway Park Dr.
Pineville Founders Hall at Pineville Church, 8614 Pineville-Matthews Rd.
Goodwill Opportunity Campus, 5301 Wilkinson Blvd.
Hal Marshall Annex, 618 N College St.
Hickory Grove Library, 5935 Hickory Grove Rd.
Independence Regional Library, 6000 Conference Dr.
Junior Achievement at Camp North End, 1701 N Graham St # 100
Marion Diehl Center, 2219 Tyvola Rd.
Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St.
Matthews Mint Hill area, 2332 Matthews Township Pkwy # B
Mecklenburg Shrine Club, 5200 Mecklenburg Shrine Club Rd.
Mint Hill Masonic Lodge, 10224 Lawyers Rd.
Mt. Island Library, 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way
North County Regional Library, 16500 Holly Crest Ln.
Pineville Library, 505 Main St.
South Boulevard Library, 4429 South Blvd.
South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Rd.
Southpark area, 2101 Rexford Rd # 168w
Southpark Regional Library, 7015 Carnegie Blvd.
Steele Creek area, 13611 Steele Creek Rd.
The Bradshaw Center at Hillcrest, 8501 Bellhaven Blvd.
UNC Charlotte Cone Center, 9025 University Rd.
University Area, 9315 N Tryon St.
West Boulevard Library, 2157 West Blvd.
When can I go to the polls in Charlotte during early voting?
Between Thursday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 2, all sites will be open:
- 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Where do I vote on Election Day?
On Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5), registered voters can only cast a ballot at their assigned polling place.
The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Anyone standing in line by 7:30 p.m. will still be able to vote.
You can search for your specific polling site through the NCSBE Voter Search tool online at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
Which races are on the NC ballot?
Registered voters will be able to cast a ballot for the following offices in the the 2024 general election:
U.S. President/Vice President
U.S. House of Representatives
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
State Auditor
State Treasurer
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Attorney General
Agriculture Commissioner
Labor Commissioner
Insurance Commissioner
State Senator
State Representative
N.C. Supreme Court Justice
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge
Superior Court Judge
District Court Judge
District Attorney
County Commissioner
Clerk of Superior Court
Register of Deeds
Several counties and municipalities will also be taking votes for boards of commissioners, boards of education, mayor and seats on municipal governing boards.
You can take a look at a sample ballot through the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ Voter Search tool, which can be accessed online at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
Last-minute tips for NC voters
The State Board of Elections addressed frequently asked voter questions, concerns and misconceptions after the first few days of early voting. Here’s what to know about and expect when you head to the polls:
▪ Be prepared to wait in line. Wear comfortable shoes, pack snacks, slather on sunscreen and consider bringing a folding chair, umbrella and/or handheld fan. If you want to know before you go, some counties have trackers to let you check voting wait times online.
▪ Remember your photo ID. Find a complete list of acceptable forms of ID at BringItNC.gov.
▪ Poll workers might write on your ballot, and that’s OK. It does not invalidate your vote.
▪ It’s illegal to photograph your ballot. Voters can use their cell phones or other electronic devices inside the voting booth to access candidate information, but they can’t take a photo of their ballot or communicate with anyone while voting.
▪ Curbside voting is an option for voters who sign a sworn statement saying they can’t enter the polling place without assistance because of age or disability. It is not available for voters who don’t want to wait in line.
▪ You can wear political attire, but only certain types. Your clothing can say the name of a candidate, but poll workers might ask you to cover up if your clothing says to “vote for” the candidate.
▪ You can leave contests blank, and your ballot will still count.
▪ Candidate supporters and volunteers might be outside the voting site handing out flyers and information about candidates. This is allowed by law as long as they are outside the marked buffer zone. Aggressive campaigners or those inside the buffer zone can be reported to an election official.
For the full list of need-to-knows and expectations, visit ncsbe.gov/news.
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