ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Election Day is less than a month away, and Buncombe County voters’ first major deadline arrives Friday.
North Carolina’s regular voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 general election is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Voters who miss that deadline may still register and vote at the same time during the state’s early-voting period.
Early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 31. Buncombe County will have 13 early-voting locations, and voters may cast a ballot at any of them.
Most locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays. Saturday voting will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, with Sunday voting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 25. On the final Saturday, Oct. 31, sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The 13 sites are spread across Asheville and Buncombe County, including locations in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Candler, Fairview, Leicester and Weaverville. The county also offers an online wait-time map showing how many voters are in line at each location.
Same-day registration is available only during early voting. People using it must provide proof of residence, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. Voters also may update their name or address at an early-voting site.
Voters will be asked to show an acceptable photo ID when voting. Those without an acceptable ID may be able to vote using an ID Exception Form.
Absentee voting underway
Voting by mail is already underway in Buncombe County.
As of Sept. 25, the Buncombe County Elections Office said it had received more than 4,000 absentee ballot requests, with more than 600 completed ballots returned.
The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Any registered North Carolina voter may request one without providing a reason.
Completed civilian absentee ballots must be received by the county Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3. A ballot postmarked by Election Day but received later will not count.
Voters returning ballots by mail need $1.98 in postage, or three Forever stamps, according to the State Board of Elections. Mail ballots also require two witnesses or a notary, and voters generally must include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID. An exception form is available for voters who cannot provide a copy of an ID.
What’s on your ballot?
The races appearing on a voter’s ballot depend on where that person lives.
North Carolina voters will decide races for U.S. Senate and Congress, the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals and seats in the N.C. General Assembly, along with statewide referenda and local races.
Buncombe County voters can see exactly what will appear on their ballot through the N.C. State Board of Elections sample-ballot page. Voters can search for their registration record and select the link under “Your Sample Ballot.” The voter search also shows registration information, voting districts and a voter’s Election Day polling place.
Election Day is Nov. 3
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone in line at 7:30 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.
Buncombe County election officials, meanwhile, are preparing equipment for early voting. Public testing of early-voting machines is scheduled from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 50 Coxe Ave. in Asheville. An absentee board meeting is scheduled to follow at 3:30 p.m. at 35 Woodfin St.
