Early voting starts today

Election Day is Nov. 4, but early voting begins today and runs through Nov. 1. Registered voters -- and even eligible residents who still haven't registered -- will have more than two weeks to cast ballots during the early voting period.

People who have lived in the state 30 days before Election Day, who are U.S. citizens and who will be at least 18 years old on Nov. 4 are eligible to register and vote during early voting. Anyone who registers now can vote during the early-voting period but not on Election Day.

POLLING PLACES

Check your county's board of elections for early voting sites and hours. These sites may be different from your usual voting place.

All one-stop voting sites will be open during business hours Monday through Friday, although opening and closing times vary. Some counties will have sites open on weekends.

On Election Day, anyone in line when the polls close can vote. During early voting, that decision is up to the county elections board.

ABSENTEE VOTING -- NOT JUST FOR THE ABSENT

Absentee ballots do not require an excuse. That means anyone who doesn't want to face lines can vote by mail.

Ballots must be received by the county elections board by 5 p.m. on the day before the election to be counted.

DON'T MISS VOTING FOR PRESIDENT AND JUDGES

Ballots allow voters to fill in a circle for straight-party voting. But filling in the straight-party-ticket circle won't register a vote for president, judicial races and nonpartisan contests such as school board.

ELECTION ATTIRE

If you're wearing a McCain-Palin button or an Obama shirt when you go to the polls, will you be allowed to vote?

Yes, says State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett. Voters going through the usual ballot-casting routine can wear items featuring their preferred candidates. However, if those voters start to draw attention to themselves by shouting candidate names, for example, that would be considered electioneering that is prohibited by law. It's up to precinct officials to decide whether the line between waiting to vote and electioneering is crossed.

COUNTING VOTES

Votes cast during early voting are counted on Election Day.

State law says a local board can start counting absentee ballots in the afternoon on Election Day, if it passes a resolution and posts a notice in a local newspaper. But the board cannot report the absentee results until the polls close.

HEAR IT FROM THE SOURCE

Elections officials warn voters not to take someone else's word about voting. If you get a postcard or a phone call saying you can't vote, double check.

The best place for answers is your county board of elections.

MORE INFORMATION

To find polling places, early-voting sites and other election information in your county, see:

* Wake County: 856-6240, www.wakegov.com/elections/

* Durham County: 560-0700, www.co. durham.nc.us/elec

* Orange County: 245-2350, www.co. orange.nc.us/elect/

* Johnston County: 989-5095, www.johnstonnc.com/index.cfm

* Chatham County: 545-8500, www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx (Look under "Departments & Programs.")

* N.C. State Board of Elections: 733-7173, www.sboe.state.nc.us.