High school voter registration

Did you know that you can register to vote - and vote in the primary election - if you will be 18 by the November general election? Or that if you are 16 or 17, that you can pre-register to vote in North Carolina?

Registering to vote in North Carolina

1. At the Board of Elections office (Mecklenburg Board of Elections or if you live outside of Mecklenburg check here). The county staff can help you with the registration form and answer your questions.
2. At one-stop absentee voting sites before the election. You can register (and also vote at the same time if you wish).
3. At many government offices. You can get a registration form at Driver's License offices and other government agencies. Most libraries and high schools have forms too. Check at the front desk.
4. A voter registration drive. If you would like to set up a voter registration drive at your school, youth program or community organization, contact Kids Voting. We can connect you with groups that can help you with materials and information.
5. Register by mail. You can fill out and mail in your registration form. You can get the form from the Mecklenburg Board of Elections or the State Board of Elections.
6. Pre-registration. As of January 1, 2010, if you are 16 or 17 you can pre-register to vote! Just fill out the registration form (link below) and give to the Board of Elections. They will send you a letter about your pre-registration and what you need to do to vote when you are 18.

Voter Registration Form Information

Voter registration form download
Mail or drop off your completed form to:
Mecklenburg County Board of Elections
741 Kenilworth Avenue, Ste 202
Charlotte, NC 28204-2897

Registration form - instructions

Be sure to check important information - such as deadlines, information needed to register, etc. - before filling out your form. When you register, you will see a space on the form for your driver's license number and last four digits of your social security number. If you don't have this information, you can still send in a registration form; the Board of Elections will ask you to bring specific identification to the polling place when you vote the first time. If you have questions about acceptable forms of ID, check with the Board of Elections.

Qualifications to be a registered voter

To register to vote in NC, a person must sign a voter declaration attesting that:

• I am a US citizen
• I will have been a resident of NC and this county for 30 days before the election
• I will be at least 18 years old by the next general election
• I am not registered nor will I vote in any other county or state
• If I have been convicted of a felony, my rights of citizenship have been restored

That's it! You don't need good grades, have a car or a job to be be eligible to vote. You just need to know how to find the facts about the candidates and issues and be informed - taking time to prepare to vote and voting regularly are important things you can do to. You've been involved in Kids Voting so hopefully you have developed these habits already.

Voting in North Carolina

Now that you have registered, how do you vote?

1. In person, on Election Day or primary election. Vote at your assigned polling place. The polls are open 6:30AM-7:30 PM.
2. In person, before Election Day or the primary election. Early voting provides an opportunity to cast a ballot at a central location on weekdays and weekends about 2 weeks before the election. Check the Board of Elections for updates on specified times and locations.
3. By mail-in absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot - no excuse is needed - but the county board of elections must receive the request on time. It must be a written request from you or a near relative, or on a form provided by the Board of Elections and must be signed by you or the relative (a brother, sister, parent, grandparent, stepparent). All absentee requests should be mailed or hand-delivered to the appropriate elections office. For more information, check here.

Do you have a new address?

If you move after you register (or pre-register to vote), you are no longer registered. Contact the Board of Elections to update your information.

Teacher Resources

Kids Voting's civics curriculum contains great standards-based resources about voting, government and civic engagement. The NC Civic Education Consortium shares additional resources for 16-17 year old pre-registration.

For voter registration instructions and materials, contact Kristin Mavromatis at the Board of Elections.