Early Voting is Ending for 2023 Local Elections; Here's Where to Go in Orange, Chatham and Durham Counties

After a layered and competitive local election cycle in Orange, Chatham, and Durham County municipal races this fall, voters now have the chance to have their final say in the races.

The early voting period began on Thursday, October 19 across North Carolina and provides a chance for residents of their towns and cities to cast their votes at their poll location of choice. With several mayors races, open town council seats, and a crowded school board race in the region, there’s certain to be change this fall happening at the ballot box — including the new requirement of a valid photo ID by the state government.

With early voting lasting through Saturday, November 4, here is what you need to know before heading to the polls in Orange, Chatham and Durham counties.

Where Can I Vote?

Orange County

At full strength, the Orange County Board of Elections is running five early voting sites this year for municipal elections — but that will not be the case for the first days of the early voting period. Just one early voting location is open from Thursday, October 19 through Wednesday, October 25 at the Orange Works facility at 113 Mayo Street in Hillsborough. Starting on Thursday, October 26, early voting sites in Chapel Hill and Carrboro will open with a new site being added to the rotation. The Chapel Hill Public Library off Estes Drive will join the Seymour Senior Center off Homestead Road, the Chapel of the Cross church on East Franklin Street, and the Carrboro town facility at 108 Bim Street as the county’s other locations.

“We really looked at the data for early voting,” Orange County Elections Director Rachel Raper told Chapelboro, “and the board decided that they would rather have more locations later in the cycle – where more people take advantage of early voting – then have five sites the whole time, where sometimes we see 30 to 40 per day at these locations. We really wanted to target our resources and have an additional site at this election cycle.”

Photo via the Orange County government.

For all Orange County early voting sites, weekday hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — except for Tuesday, October 31, where they will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the Orange Works early voting site will be closed the weekend of October 21-22, Saturday and Sunday hours will also the be the same for all locations. Residents can come cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays October 28 and November 4, while Sunday hours on October 29 will be from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Durham County

There are a handful of voters with Chapel Hill addresses that vote in Durham County, as well as thousands of other Durhamites. As is typical for the county, it is using its various library branches at sites for early voting in this local election cycle. The Durham County Main Library on North Roxboro Street, the North Regional Library on Milton Road, the East Regional Library on Lick Creek Lane, and the South Regional Library on South Alston Avenue will all once again be open to voters. North Carolina Central University’s Turner Law Building on Nelson Street is also an early voting site.

Photo via the Durham County government.

All five locations opened on October 19 with consistent hours across each facility. On weekdays, residents can vote from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday hours on October 21 and October 28 are from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., while Sunday hours on October 22 and October 29 are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 4 — the final day of the early voting period — will have its own unique hours, with all sites being open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Chatham County

Chatham County will operate just one early voting site for its Pittsboro, Siler City, Goldston, and Cary municipal elections this fall. It will be held at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 U.S. Highway 64 in Pittsboro, and opened on Thursday, October 19. The site will not be open for voting on October 21, October 22, or October 29. Weekday hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The final weekdays of the early voting period are exception, with Thursday, November 2 and Friday, November 3 seeing their hours extended from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The full list of days and hours are:

Thursday, October 19: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 20: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, October 23: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 24: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 25: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 26: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 27: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 28 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, October 30: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 31: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 1: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 2: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 3: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 4: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Is It Too Late to Register to Vote?

While the deadline to change your registration online or at the Board of Elections office passed on October 13, early voting sites provide a one-stop option for people looking to update their registration as they cast their ballots. State laws allow for North Carolinians to register for the first time or update their address during the early voting period. Name changes and party affiliation changes are not allowed, though.

If you are registering to vote for the first time, you are required to present a North Carolina driver license or a different valid photo identification. Alternatively, residents can present a bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document showing your name and current address.

North Carolinians can always check their voter registration information on the state Board of Election’s Voter Search web page.

Do I Need an ID to Vote?

After a recent North Carolina Supreme Court ruling, yes — 2023 will mark the first election cycle in a while that a valid form of photo identification will need to be presented at the polls in order to cast a normal ballot. Common accepted IDs include North Carolina driver’s licenses, passports, and UNC System student, faculty, or staff ID cards. There is an ID Exemption form people can fill out, but if those exemptions doesn’t apply, you can always either get a free Voter ID card from your respective board of elections office or vote with a provisional ballot and take an ID to the board of elections before November 14.

“There’s a process for any voter who presents without a photo ID,” Raper told Chapelboro. “Our [Orange County] staff, both at early voting sites and on Election Day, will be well-trained to help guide our voters through that process, so that no one is turned away when they present to vote.”

How Can I Vote?

If you plan on visiting an early voting location, you will vote in-person and turn in your ballot on-site. There is, however, still time to request an absentee ballot if residents prefer to mail their votes in to the respective Board of Elections.

North Carolinians who are registered to vote can request absentee ballots two ways: by using the online N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal or by using a paper copy of the ballot request form, which must be returned to the voter’s respective county elections office. Once received, the ballot must be filled out by the voter and signed by two witnesses. Like in-person voting, a copy of valid photo identification must be included in an absentee ballot for it to be counted.

Tuesday, October 31 is the final day to send in a request to vote with an absentee ballot and the request must be made by 5 p.m. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, November 10 by the respective board of elections.

Where Can I Learn More?

The Orange County, Durham County and Chatham County Boards of Elections websites have more information that could be helpful to voters and residents during the general election cycle. Additionally, Orange County voters can use the 24/7 text line to ask questions before they head to the polls.

More voter resources and information can be found by going to the North Carolina Board of Elections website. Important deadlines to keep in mind for this fall’s election cycle can also be found here.

For a full list of races Chapelboro is covering this 2023 local election cycle, click here. Additional coverage throughout election season can be found on the Chapelboro Local Elections page.

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