How do I register to vote?
To register to vote in North Carolina, you can register online through the Division of Motor Vehicles or register by mail by downloading a form at the North Carolina State Board of Elections and mailing a completed form to the county board of elections. You may also register in-person at your county board of elections office.
Tar Heels looking to register to vote in other states should access the national voter registration form.
Visit our Voter Registration and Resources page for more comprehensive information and useful links.
Election 2024
The next opportunity for most to vote in North Carolina will be in the fall of 2024. If you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration, same-day registration is available during early voting. You can only vote early in your county of residence. A college student may register in their college community or remain registered at home. More information about registering to vote as a college student can be found at the North Carolina Board of Elections website.
If you are registered to vote in Orange County or are eligible to use same-day registration at an Orange County early voting site, the closest early voting location to campus is Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St. (next to Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). To register to vote during the early voting period, be sure to bring proof of residency, showing your name and current address. If you live in a residence hall on-campus, including in the Granville Towers complex, Orange County election officials have a roster, so you may show your OneCard as proof of residency. Students living on campus can also find their residential address on the What’s My Address? page of the Carolina Housing website.
Please check the Orange County Board of Elections website or your home county’s Board of Elections website for more information about early voting locations and hours. During early voting, you may vote at any early voting location in your county of residence. If you would prefer to vote by mail, you must submit a request for an absentee ballot and return your completed ballot by 5 p.m. on Election Day. If you are registered to vote, you can vote in person on Election Day. The on-campus Election Day voting site is the Stone Center (150 South Rd.).
You can check your registration, find your polling place and download a sample ballot at the N.C. State Board of Elections website. There is no same-day registration available on Election Day.
Voter ID and UNC OneCards
Beginning this year, voters in North Carolina will be required to show an approved photo ID when voting. Physical UNC One Cards have been approved by the state for both students and employees to use when voting. (UNC’s mobile One Card is not approved.) Visit the North Carolina Board of Election’s voter ID webpage for more information about what other forms of ID will and will not be accepted.
Get Involved
Carolina is incredibly fortunate to have a number of student clubs and organizations actively working to engage our campus and community. If you would like to help promote democracy on campus we recommend getting involved via Heel Life. Getting involved can be fun, easy, and a powerful way to engage and make an impact in your community while a student at Carolina. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Life and Leadership at studentlife@unc.edu.
For students: Civic Engagement Working Group
The UNC Civic Engagement Working Group connects student leaders across campus working on voter registration and engagement. The group aims to create a coalition of student organizations for coordination in civic engagement efforts, provide a set of materials and best practices for voter engagement messaging, gather student input and support for institutional civic engagement efforts, and lay the groundwork for a culture of civic engagement beyond elections.
If you or your organization are interested in joining the working group, please contact Natasha Young.
For faculty and staff: Promote Democracy Coalition
A coalition of faculty and staff working on civic and election engagement efforts from a variety of angles meets regularly throughout the year to coordinate their efforts. The group includes representatives from the Carolina Center for Public Service, Student Life and Leadership, Off-Campus Student Life and Community Involvement, Carolina Public Humanities, Carolina Athletics, the Office of the Chancellor, the Department of Political Science, the School of Government, Carolina Housing, the Campus Y, University Libraries and many more areas across campus.
If you are interested in learning more or joining this coalition, contact Natasha Young.
Chapel Hill Peoples Academy
The Chapel Hill Peoples Academy is an opportunity to learn, connect and lead. Participants learn about Chapel Hill’s town services and opportunities, connect with local leaders and community members, and lead by engaging in dialogue about community issues. ALL people that live, work, play, pray or study in Chapel Hill are invited to register. Information can be found on the Peoples Academy website.
In 2022 and 2023, UNC partnered with the Town of Chapel Hill to also offer the UNC Peoples Academy in order to specifically highlight opportunities for service, internships and engagement with local governmental organizations. Learn more about the 2022 and 2023 UNC Peoples Academy here and here.