Voter Registration - General Information

Who may register to vote?

1. A citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized;
2. At least 18 years old by the date of the next general election and
3. A resident of North Carolina and your voting precinct for 30 days by the date of the next election.

Note: Convicted felons may not register and vote until their citizenship rights have been restored.

When to Register

North Carolina has free, permanent and continuous registration. You need to register or re-register if:

1. You have just moved to North Carolina; or
2. You have just moved from one county to another.

You need to update your registration if:

1. You have moved from one precinct to another within the same county.
2. You have changed your name; or
3. You wish to change you party affiliation.

All registrations and updates must be completed at least 25 days before an election. All transactions may be completed in person or by mail.

How to Register

Voter registration forms (which may be completed on-site or returned in the mail) are available at the following places:

• North Carolina Voter Registration forms are available for downloading and/or printing from our Forms & Applications web page.
• Your county Board of Elections office. Call for days, hours, and other locations;
• Town Hall, Department of Social Services, Employment Security Commission, as well as Mental health and County Health providers.
• The Department of Motor Vehicles, when you apply for, or renew, your driver’s license;
• Public libraries, Call ahead for days, hours, locations.
• Mail completed forms to:

  Iredell County Board of Elections
  203 Stockton St.
  Statesville, NC 28677

Note: Members of the armed forces, their spouses, certain veterans, and civilians with the armed forces or Peace Corps may register and vote by mail.

You may appeal to your County Board of Elections if you are denied the right to register.

Political Party Affiliation

When you register, you will be asked to declare your party affiliation. There are two types of voter affiliation:

1. Affiliation with the Democratic, Republican or other officially recognized political party.
2. Unaffiliated.: Voters must announce at polling place- at time they give name- party choice, if they choose to participate in primary election.

Party Primaries and 17 Year Olds

A person who is seventeen years old may register and vote in a party primary, if she/he will be eighteen years old by the date of the next general election. Registration earlier than sixty days, nor later than twenty-one days prior to the primary (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) is not permitted. Although seventeen years olds may vote in the party primary, they may not vote on any constitutional issues, bonds, or referenda items on the ballot.

Types of Elections

Municipal Elections are held in odd numbered years.

National, state, and county elections are held in even numbered years.

In the general election, you elect these officials for two-year terms:

• Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Members of the N.C. House and N.C Senate
• County officials*

*these are sometimes 4-year terms

In a presidential election year, and every four years thereafter, you also elect:

• United States President and Vice President
• N.C. Governor
• N.C Attorney General
• N.C Secretary of State
• N.C State Auditor
• N.C State Treasurer
• N.C Superintendent of Public Instruction
• N.C Commissioner of Labor
• N.C Commissioner of Insurance
• N.C Commissioner of Agriculture

One United States Senator will be elected in 1996 and every six years thereafter; the other U.S Senator will be elected in 1998 and every six years thereafter.