While much of Western North Carolina is focused on rebuilding after widespread destruction from Tropical Storm Helene, election season is also in full swing across the state.
Early voting began in Buncombe County on Thursday, and Election Day itself is just over two weeks away from Tuesday. November 5.
Ahead of the November election, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know before heading to the polls – from how to check your voter registration status to when to expect unofficial election results on Election Day.
Here’s what you need to know about voting in the 2024 elections in Buncombe County:
Voter Lookup: How to Check If You’re Registered to Vote in North Carolina
You can check your voter registration status, polling place, sample ballot, and absentee ballot information through the North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBOE) voter lookup tool.
To access the information, you must enter your first and last name, as well as voter status (currently registered, or deleted or denied). You can also choose to enter your year of birth and place of residence.
Can you still register to vote in North Carolina?
Although the official voter registration period has passed, voters can register and vote the same day at early voting locations in Buncombe County. The deadline for in-person registration is Saturday, November 2, 3:00 PM.
To register, you must have lived in Buncombe County for at least 30 days before Election Day and provide proof of residency and photo identification issued by a government agency. More information can be found on the SBOE website.
Where are early voting locations in North Carolina?
If you’re hoping to vote early in Buncombe County, you can visit one of 10 early voting polling places, which are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1, according to the county’s Department of Election Services.
For other counties, you can use the SBOE search tool to find early voting polling places near you.
Here are the early election polling places in Buncombe County:
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Black Mountain Library
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East Asheville Library
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Enka-Candler Library
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Fairview Library
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Leicester Community Centre
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South Buncombe Library
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UNCA Health & Counseling Center (new location at 118 WT Weaver Blvd., Asheville)
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Weaverville Community Center
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Dr. Wesley Grant Southside Center (in lieu of the Board of Elections location)
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West Asheville Library
Asheville Voter Guide: What’s on the ballot in North Carolina and Buncombe County?
The November ballot will include everything from races for local city council and school boards to the 2024 presidential race. For a complete guide to local, state and federal elections in North Carolina, check out the Citizen Times Voter Guide.
You can also find a sample ballot through the NC Voter Search at ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot.
NC Constitutional Amendment 2024: What does a voting measure ‘for citizens only’ mean? What you need to know
Important dates in the North Carolina elections
With early voting kicking off this week, here are other dates to keep in mind for North Carolina’s November elections.
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October 17: In-person voting begins
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October 29: Deadline to request an absentee ballot (5 p.m.)
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November 2: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.)
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November 5: Election Day
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November 5: Deadline to return an absentee ballot (7:30 p.m.)
Where and when to find election results in North Carolina
While it may take several weeks for election results to be officially certified, unofficial election results in North Carolina will become available within hours of polls closing on Election Day. You can find the unofficial election results on the evening of November 5 by visiting the SBOE results dashboard or following Citizen Times’ live coverage.
Here’s an estimated timeline of election night in North Carolina, according to the SBOE. It is important to note that these times are all estimates and may vary by province.
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7:30 PM – Polling stations close.
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7:30 PM to 9:00 PM — Absentee-by-mail votes approved by a county board of elections are reported on the Election Results dashboard.
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8:00 PM to 9:30 PM — Early voting results are reported on the results dashboard. Data is refreshed every five to ten minutes.
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8:00 PM to 9:30 PM — County officials will personally deliver election results to the county election board.
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8:30 PM to 12:00 PM —Precise results are reported. on the results dashboard.
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After election night: Military and overseas absentee ballots received by the county executive before the election deadline, as well as provisional votes, will be added to the results once approved by the county executive. This occurs during the election period after election night, when election officials attempt to confirm the accuracy of all election data.
More: How are Trump and Harris faring in the North Carolina polls as Election Day approaches?
Voting information for those affected by Hurricane Helene
For voter information in areas affected by Helene, visit the Citizen Times Hurricane Voting Guide as well as the SBOE resource page for voters affected by the storm.
If you need more information about voting in Asheville, visit Election Services at 59 Woodfin Place, call 828-250-4200 or email elections@buncombecounty.org. More information is also available online at buncombecounty.org/vote.
Iris Seaton contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville, NC early voting: Where to find polls, check registration
