What You Need to Know About Voting This Fall

electronic-voting-machineTimeline for the 2016 Election

  • Sept. 12 – Sample ballots available online at buncombecounty.org/vote or by calling (828) 250-4200.
  • Oct. 14 – Deadline to register (though you may register and vote during early voting)
  • Oct. 20 – Early voting begins at 16 locations throughout Buncombe County
  • Nov. 1 – Last day to request a ballot by mail
  • Nov. 8 – Election Day

Good News for Buncombe County Voters

In light of the recent court decision, North Carolina voters now:

  • Will be entitled to vote without presenting photo identification
  • Will have an additional seven days of early voting, for a total of 17 (early voting in Buncombe County is slated to begin October 20th, 2016)
  • Will be able to register to vote at an early-voting site on the same day that they cast their ballots
  • Will have their provisional votes counted (for every race for which they are eligible) if they appear at the wrong precinct within their county on Election Day
  • Will be able to pre-register to vote as sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds

Some provisions of the 2013 law that were not affected by this decision and will remain in place include:

  • Absentee ballots require two witnesses (or one, if a notary public)
  • Each county party chair may appoint up to ten additional at-large poll observers who can attend any voting place in the county
  • Candidates will be listed on the ballot in alphabetical order by party beginning with the party that won the most recent gubernatorial election
  • Ballots will not carry a “straight-party” option; all races must be voted on individually
  • If the polls are delayed in opening for more than 15 minutes, the NC Board of Elections may extend the closing time for an equal number of minutes. County Boards of Elections, however, no longer have the discretion to extend voting hours by an hour due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
  • Voters may not sign registration forms with “electronically captured” signatures
  • Individuals may not be compensated based on the number of voters they assist in registering to vote
  • Any registered voter in the state (as opposed to any voter in the specific county) can inspect a county’s registration records during regular BOE business hours on non-election days and challenge another voter’s registration in that county
  • On Election Day, any registered voter in a county (as opposed to any voter in the specific precinct) can challenge another voter’s eligibility to vote

If you have questions about registration or voting, contact one of the following:

  • Buncombe County Election Services, (828) 250-4200
  • NC State Board of Elections, (919) 733-7173
  • Voter Hotline (for problems or questions), 888-OUR-VOTE (888-687-8683)

To receive Text Reminders from Buncombe County Election Services, text BCVote to 888-777 (regular data rates will apply).