Franklin County Voting FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

 

Who can register to vote?

 

You must be registered in Franklin County to vote here. To register, you must be:

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• A United States Citizen

• 18 years or older by the day of the Election: In 2024 March 5 for the Primary, November 5 for the General

• A resident of your county for at least 30 days before the election you want to vote in

• Not be registered in nor will vote in any other county or state

• Not be serving a felony sentence — this includes probation, parole, or unpaid fees

• Have had citizenship rights restored, if ever convicted of a felony

• If you are 17, you can register to vote if you will be 18 by Election Day

 

More details are available here

 

Where can I register to vote? 

If you are a new voter or a new resident, you must register to vote in Franklin County.

 

Option 1: Paper form

Fill out a voter registration form, sign it, and either mail it or bring it to the Franklin County Board of Elections. Voter registration applications are available at: 

 

• The Franklin County Board of Elections

• Public libraries

• Public high schools or college admissions offices

• Online

 

Option 2: DMV or online registration

If you have a valid NC driver's license, you can register to vote at your local DMV, or you can register online through the DMV website

 

• DMV online Voter Registration

 

Option 3: Same-day registration

You register during the early voting period. After registering, the newly registered voter can immediately vote at that same site. This process is called “same-day registration.” When you check in to vote at an early voting site, you may also update your name or address within the same county if necessary.

 

• Same-Day Registration

 

Am I already registered to vote? 

 

If you are not sure whether or not you are already a registered voter in the state of North Carolina, you can check your registration status here:

 

• Voter Registration Lookup

 

How do I vote in Franklin County?

 

You can vote in person on election day, in person during early voting days, or with an absentee ballot (vote by mail).

 

• Vote early in-person

• In Person on Election Day

• Absentee Ballot (Vote by Mail)

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Can I Vote By Mail?

 

Yes!  Details about Voting by Mail can be found here or read our FAQ.

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Voters in North Carolina may choose to vote absentee for any reason and do not have to be out of town to vote by mail.

• Absentee ballots may be returned to the Election Center via US Postal Service, by a close relative authorized to do so, or by hand to an Early Voting location.

• If a voter requests an absentee ballot and then decides to vote in person, the voter should return the requested absentee ballot to an election official so it can be officially “spoiled”. This means the ballot will be disposed of in a manner such that it cannot be used.

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​What is the deadline to register to vote?

 

The deadline to register to vote in North Carolina is 25 days before Election Day (February 9 for the 2024 Primary Election). The county board of elections must receive your voter registration application by this date.

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If an application is received after the deadline, the application may still be timely if it was mailed and postmarked on or before that deadline; otherwise, the application will not be processed until after the election.

 

Do I have to have an ID to vote? 

 

YES! You need a legally acceptable ID to vote in all North Carolina Elections.

 

  > You can find everything you need to know right here. 

 

Heads Up: If you don't have an acceptable ID, DO NOT WAIT to get one.  It can take some time, depending on your circumstance. So, take action now! You can get a FREE ID CARD at the Franklin County Board of Elections.  Details here.

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Check your Registration – Don’t Get Purged!

 

In North Carolina, a process called list maintenance is used to keep our voter lists accurate and up-to-date.

 

• During list maintenance, a voter who has not voted in two (2) consecutive federal elections will be moved to “inactive” status.

• Voters who are inactive may vote in the usual way but may be asked to update their address.

• Voters who have not voted in four consecutive federal elections and are on the inactive list will be removed from voting rolls and will be required to re-register before voting. This may be accomplished at One-Stop Early Voting before the election.

 

You can check your registration here.

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