Trying to Vote in Orange County? Here Are Answers to 2024 Election Day Questions

General Election Day has arrived in North Carolina, with polls opening at 6:30 a.m. across the state on Tuesday.

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.

An example of a voter’s registration and precinct listing on the North Carolina Board of Elections website. (Photo via NCSBE.)

Additionally, the Orange County government has a variety of maps based on the districts of certain races and pictures of precincts’ polling places on its Elections page.

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.

Do I Need an ID to Vote?

Yes, you will need to show a photo ID in order to vote according to North Carolina law.

Acceptable photo IDs include: driver’s licenses; passports; military IDs; student IDs from Duke; student and employee IDs from UNC, Durham Tech and NC Central (UNC’s must be physical); and employee IDs from Orange County, Durham County, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough.

Click here for a full list of acceptable photo IDs.

Even if you show up to vote without a photo ID, you won’t be turned away! You will still be able to vote on a Provisional Ballot – but then to confirm your vote, you’ll have to bring a valid photo ID to your county elections office by 5 p.m. on the ninth day after Election Day (which is Thursday, Nov. 14). You can also sign a Photo ID Exception Form if there’s a reasonable impediment keeping you from providing a valid photo ID. This would apply, for example, if you have a religious objection to being photographed, or if you were the victim of a recent natural disaster.

When can I vote on Election Day?

Polls across North Carolina open at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 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.

If you’re looking to learn more about candidate’s, check out those who recorded with 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro in our “Candidate Introductions” series.

How can I learn the results of the primary elections?

97.9 The Hill will be carrying its Election Night Special broadcast 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, both statewide and locally, after the polls close at 7:30 p.m. Chapelboro will also have an election results page with local races and select statewide races.

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

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