Going to the Polls? Here’s Some Election Day Answers in Orange County

Primary Election Day across North Carolina is here, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. With heated races for U.S. Senate, redistricted U.S. House seats, state legislature spots and local governments, there are plenty of reasons to head to the polls.

But Election Day has a few more rules to it than the early voting period or when voting by mail. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions when it comes to voting in North Carolina and, specifically, in Orange County.

Where do I go to vote?

Unlike in the early voting period, you must go to your specific precinct on Election Day. To receive a precinct, you must be registered to vote at least 25 days before the primary election. The site is typically close to the voter’s listed residential address.

Voters can either check their physical voter registration card or search their registration status on the North Carolina Board of Elections page. After entering your name, searching for results and selecting your page, you can scroll down to the tab titled ‘Your Voting Locations’ to find your specific precinct.

Where do I vote if I live in the area part-time?

Orange County and North Carolina laws say voters can vote wherever they deem their residential address to be. That means wherever you selected your place of residence while registering to vote determines your county and precinct.

What if I go to the wrong precinct?

Orange County’s Board of Elections strongly suggests trying to vote at your precinct before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. But voters who are in the correct county can still vote at an incorrect precinct — often just with fewer races on their ballots.

Voters within the county but at a different precinct can use Provisional Ballots, which will include all elections in which the voter is eligible to participate.

Any voter in North Carolina may request to vote with a Provisional Ballot, regardless of the situation. The ability to affect local government races, however, may be removed.

Are there some Chapel Hill voters who do not vote in Orange County?

Yes. There are some Chapel Hill residents who live in the township, but in Durham and Chatham counties. You can search your voting precinct using the same state Board of Elections tool, but will vote in respective races for the counties.

Can I still vote if I’m registered as unaffiliated?

Yes. In North Carolina, voters who are registered as unaffiliated get to select which party’s ballot they will vote on during the primary elections. That means either the Democrat, Republican and Libertarian parties’ races will appear on the ballot, but not all of the races. Local government races that are non-partisan will still be included.

Choosing a party’s ballot during an election cycle will not change a voter’s registration status as unaffiliated.

When can I vote on Election Day?

Polls across North Carolina open at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, and will close at 7:30 p.m. If you are in line at a polling site and it is 7:30, you are still allowed to cast your ballot past the closing time.

Where can I learn more?

The Orange County Board of Elections has a helpful website with even more in-depth questions about voting and registration. The North Carolina Board of Elections also has many details on its website.

How can I learn the results of the primary elections?

97.9 The Hill will be carrying our Primary Election Special on 97.9 FM/1360 AM radio and streaming online, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. The program will share details of the results after the polls close at 7:30 p.m. Chapelboro will also have an election results page with local races.

For all North Carolina results, visit the state Board of Elections website.

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