Voting Access Scorecard - North Carolina
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in North Carolina. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, North Carolina ranks 17. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 18.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Can register during Early Voting period. North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | N |
| State has automatic registration North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Locations determined by local officials. North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting | V |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting | Y |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/absentee-voting-mail | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently North Carolina State Board of elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/absentee-voting-mail | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/absentee-voting-mail | N |
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| State allows voters to register online North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Registering-to-Vote | N |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ | Y |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day NC GS § 163-166.13 required photo ID but was struck down by 4th Circuit (cert. denied 2017): North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Voter-Id-Req | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Portals/0/FilesP/AbsenteeBallotRequestForm.pdf | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) NC GS § 163-166.13 required photo ID but was struck down by 4th Circuit (cert. denied 2017): North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voter-Registration/Voter-Id-Req | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form NC GS § 163-82.14(d)(2): http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-82.14.html | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request North Carolina Governor: https://twitter.com/NC_Governor/status/880838698484592640 | N |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete NC GS § 163-55: http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-55.html | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration NC GS § 163-55: http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-55.html | N |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole NC GS § 163-55: http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-55.html | N |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail NC Gen. Stat. §163-165.7: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-165.7.pdf | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training County board shall conduct mandatory, compensated instructional meeting. N.C. Gen. Stat. §163-46: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-46.pdf | Y |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification NC Gen. Stat. §163-165.7: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_163/GS_163-165.7.pdf | Y |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Elections-Voting-Systems | Y |
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