NORTH CAROLINA, USA — North Carolina's 2024 primary elections are coming up, a chance for people in the Tar Heel state to pick the candidates they want to face off in the November general election.
The primary elections will occur on Tuesday, March 5, but early voting is underway. From the presidential primary to statewide races, North Carolinians will have several different offices on their ballot.
North Carolina is one of 15 states, along with American Samoa, participating in Super Tuesday, when the highest number of states hold presidential primary elections all on the same day. The outcome will likely indicate the frontrunner for each party's presidential nomination since hundreds of delegates will be up for grabs.
Here's everything you need to know about voting in North Carolina's 2024 primary elections: dates, voter ID rules, voter registration, who's on the ballot, and more.
Dates, voter deadlines, and rules
- Jan. 19: Local election boards started to mail absentee ballots to people who submitted an absentee ballot request form.
- Feb. 9: Deadline to register to vote.
- Feb. 15: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration is available.
- Feb. 27: Deadline to request an absentee ballot (5 p.m.)
- March 2: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.)
- March 5: Election Day
- March 5: Deadline to return an absentee ballot (7:30 p.m.)
Voter ID rules
People will be asked to show a photo ID when voting in North Carolina, but all voters can vote without one, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
If a voter can't show a photo ID when voting in person, they can still vote by filling out an ID exception form. If absentee-by-mail voters can't include a copy of their photo ID with a ballot return envelope, they can fill out an ID exception form with their ballot.
Acceptable types of photo IDs include a North Carolina driver’s license, U.S. passport, and college or university student ID. People can also get a free ID card from their county board of elections or the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.
North Carolina voter registration: How to check your status
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has a voter search tool that includes voting jurisdictions, polling places, sample ballots when available, absentee ballot information, and voter history.
Where do I vote? Here's how to find your polling location in North Carolina
To find where to vote in North Carolina, use the North Carolina State Board of Elections' polling place search tool. It will ask for your residential address, city, state, and ZIP code.
What offices are on the 2024 North Carolina ballot?
In addition to the primary elections for the presidency and U.S. House of Representatives, North Carolina has a ton of offices on the ballot, including the statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Additionally, many counties have elections for boards of commissioners and boards of education, and some municipalities have elections for mayor and seats on their governing board.
Who’s on the 2024 North Carolina primary ballot?
A full list of primary candidates for all of North Carolina's 2024 races is available on the State Board of Elections website.
Presidential primaries
Republican
- Ryan Binkley
- Chris Christie
- Ron DeSantis
- Nikki Haley
- Asa Hutchinson
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- Donald J. Trump
- No preference
Democratic
- Joe Biden
- No preference
Libertarian
- Toad Anderson
- Charles Ballay
- David (TrimeTaveler) Dunlap
- Jacob Hornberger
- Beau Lindsey
- Lars Mapstead
- Chase Oliver
- Michael Rectenwald
- Joshua Smith
- Mike ter Maat
Governor
Republican
- Mark Robinson
- Dale Folwell
- Bill Graham
Democratic
- Josh Stein
- Mike Morgan
- Chrelle Booker
- Marcus Williams
- Gary Foxx
Libertarian
- Shannon Bray
- Mike Ross
Lieutenant Governor
Republican
- Deanna Ballard
- Peter Boykin
- Rivera Douthit
- Jeffrey Elmore
- Marlenis Hernandez Novoa
- Allen Mashburn
- Jim O’Neil
- Sam Page
- Ernest Reeves
- Hal Weatherman
- Seth Woodall
Democratic
- Rachel Hunt
- Ben Clark
- Mark H. Robinson
Libertarian
- Dee Watson (Because she is running uncontested, Watson automatically advances to the general election.)
Attorney General
Democratic
- Satana Deberry
- Tim Dunn
- Jeff Jackson
Republican
- Dan Bishop (Because he is running uncontested, Bishop automatically advances to the general election.)
RELATED: 2024 primary race for North Carolina attorney general features 3 Democrats vying for party nod
Secretary of State
Democratic
- Elaine Marshall (Because she is running uncontested, Marshall automatically advances to the general election.)
Republican
- Chad Brown
- Jesse Thomas
- Christine Villaverde
Where to find sample ballots
Use the North Carolina State Board of Elections voter search tool that includes voting jurisdictions, polling places, sample ballots when available, absentee ballot information, and voter history.
Do I have to register by political party for the 2024 North Carolina primaries?
Yes, voters affiliated with any political party will be able to vote on the ballot of candidates for their party only, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. However, unaffiliated voters vote on any one political party’s ballot. People can't vote in more than one party’s primary.
