Early voting begins in North Carolina: what you need to know before going to the polls FAQ | WFAE 90.7

Early voting will run until 3 p.m. on November 2 in North Carolina. WFAE has created additional FAQs to answer additional questions voters may have before heading to the polls, including questions we have heard from the public. (Click here to read a recent FAQ report on our website republished by Carolina Public Press that covers many basic questions, like where to find your sample ballot and what type of ID you can use to vote.)

I was affected by Hurricane Helene. Can I still participate in the election?

Flooding from Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina on September 28. The declared disaster areas cover 28 counties, three of which include the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribal Area.

Those who were forced to move because of the hurricane can ask an absentee ballot to be delivered to their new location. If a voter has already requested an absentee ballot, they can contact their county election board to reissue a ballot at their updated location.

Absentee ballots can be requested online. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is the Tuesday before Election Day, October 29.

Click here for more information on requesting an absentee ballot.

I lost my voter card because of Hurricane Helene. Can I still vote?

Yes, voters who lost their ID photo due to Hélène I have several options:

• Voters can fill out a photo ID exception form at their polling location. If the voter requested an absentee ballot, an exemption form will accompany the absentee ballot. Check the box “Exception 3: Victim of a natural disaster” on the form and be sure to sign it before mailing it back.

• People already registered to vote can go to their county election board office and have their photo taken for free and receive a printed voter photo ID on the spot.

For more information on requiring photo ID, click here.

How can I get involved in election work?

Election workers work at early voting locations and on Election Day. Duties include setting up voter equipment, processing ballots, securing the voting site and much more. Election officials must be over 17 years old. To apply for a position, complete this form. This is a paid position.

Who can monitor the elections?

Election observers designated in advance by a political party are authorized to monitor a voting location. According to the State of North Carolina lawthe county chair of each political party may choose two observers for each polling location and up to 10 people for the entire county. The state party chair can choose up to 100 for the state. Unaffiliated candidates may designate two observers per polling station.

What are election observers and what can and cannot they do?

A election observer may be inside the polling place to monitor the voting process.

Observers can:

• Move around the polling place
• Take notes
• Going out and coming in
• Take photos before voting begins and after voting ends.

Observers can’t:

• Interfering with elections
• View or take photos or videos of a voter’s marked ballot
• Harassing voters
• Intimidate voters
• Tampering with votes
• Retain voter information

Can I ask someone to drive me and assist me during the voting?

Yes, under North Carolina law All voters can receive help voting from a family member.

Voters with a specific disability or additional needs may receive help from people not related to them to assist them in the voting process (except their employer or union representative). Voters who fall under this rule include those who are illiterate, disabled, not proficient in English, or blind.

Voters can ask for help at the polling place and explain to the chief judge at the polling place why they need help. The voter must indicate who is assisting him and this person must be approved by the judge.

People who assist voters cannot influence the voter’s choice, reveal how the person voted, or take notes on what happens in the voting booth.

What steps are being taken to ensure votes are protected and counted?

There are many guarantees in place to ensure that elections are secure and secure. These include post-election procedures and audits, cybersecurity, certified voting systems, and trained bipartisan election officials. To learn more about all the safety measures in place in North Carolina, click here.

What is voter intimidation and what should I do if I am a victim of voter intimidation?

Voter intimidation is a crime that includes any activity or interaction that could leave a voter feeling afraid, coerced, or threatened during the voting process, especially before someone has cast a ballot. Actions considered as voter intimidation include threats of violence, harm and doxing.

If a voter feels intimidated, they should notify an election official. The chief judge of a polling place is responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly at a polling place.

Political Signs: Where Can You Place Them and What Happens If You Remove Them?

Political signs can be placed along highways 30 days before early voting begins and must be removed 10 days after Election Day in North Carolina.

Under North Carolina lawIt is a crime to remove properly and lawfully placed political signs. However, if signs are still present 30 days after the end of the election, they are considered abandoned and anyone can remove them without penalty.

Signs cannot be placed on the highway; they must be 3 feet from the road, and they cannot obstruct the driver’s view at an intersection or block/replace an existing sign. There are also certain heights and sizes restrictions for the signs.

To place a sign in a home, business or religious institution, permission must be given by the owner.

A city can create its own rules regarding how long campaign signs can remain up after the election ends. If a political sign is still up 30 days after the deadline set by city regulations, it is considered abandoned and anyone can take it down without penalty. If a city does not create its own rules for political signs, the general state rules apply.

Who can use curbside voting?

For those who cannot access the voting location, even with assistance, due to age or disability, curbside voting is available. To learn more about curbside voting, click here.