Last-minute tips for Raleigh voters: What’s on the ballot, where to vote & need-to-knows
In-person voting for the 2024 general election started in North Carolina.
Early voting runs Thursday, Oct. 17 - Saturday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Here’s what to know about voting sites in Wake County and how to check what will appear on your ballot.
Where can you vote early in Wake County?
If voting early, any eligible Wake County voter can go to any polling place in the county.
There are 22 early voting sites in the county:
- Abbott’s Creek Community Center (Raleigh)
- Avery Street Recreation Center (Garner)
- Barwell Road Community Center (Raleigh)
- Cary Senior Center (Cary)
- Eastern Regional Center (Zebulon)
- Green Road Community Center (Raleigh)
- Herbert C. Young Community Center (Cary)
- Hilltop Needmore Town Park and Preserve (Fuquay-Varina)
- John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center (Raleigh)
- John M. Brown Community Center (Apex)
- Knightdale Recreation Center (Knightdale)
- Lake Lynn Community Center (Raleigh)
- Laurel Hills Community Center (Raleigh)
- NCSU Talley Student Union (Raleigh)
- Northern Regional Center (Wake Forest)
- Optimist Park Community Center (Raleigh)
- Southeast Raleigh YMCA (Raleigh)
- W.E. Hunt Recreation Center (Holly Springs)
- Wake County Board of Elections Office (Raleigh)
- Wake Technical Community College Northern Campus Building E (Raleigh)
- Wake Technical Community College Southern Campus Building T (Raleigh)
- Wendell Community Center (Wendell)
Enter your address to find a polling site near you on the county’s website.
Polling place hours vary by day. View a schedule at wake.gov.
Where can you vote on Election Day in Wake County?
If voting on Election Day, eligible Wake County voters must vote at their assigned polling place so that they receive a ballot that contains the races for which they can vote.
Find your assigned polling place by using the North Carolina State Board of Elections Polling Place Search at vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup.
Which races are on the ballot?
Eligible voters in North Carolina will see some races in common across their ballots, for federal and state offices:
- President and vice president of the United States
- North Carolina governor
- North Carolina lieutenant governor
- State attorney general
- State auditor
- State commissioner of agriculture
- State commissioner of insurance
- State commissioner of labor
- NC secretary of state
- State superintendent of public instruction
- State treasurer
- NC Supreme Court associate justice seat 6
- NC Court of Appeals judge seat 12
NC Court of Appeals judge seat 14
NC Court of Appeals judge seat 15
Some ballot items depend on where a voter lives. These could include mayor, city council, state senate and house, district court judges, school board and other races.
There may also be referenda including bonds and constitutional amendments.
View a sample ballot using the Voter Search, available at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
Last-minute tips for NC voters
The State Board of Elections addressed frequently asked voter questions, concerns and misconceptions after the first few days of early voting. Here’s what to know about and expect when you head to the polls:
▪ Be prepared to wait in line. Wear comfortable shoes, pack snacks, slather on sunscreen and consider bringing a folding chair, umbrella and/or handheld fan. If you want to know before you go, some counties — including Wake County — have trackers to let you check voting wait times online.
▪ Remember your photo ID. Find a complete list of acceptable forms of ID at BringItNC.gov.
▪ Poll workers might write on your ballot, and that’s OK. It does not invalidate your vote.
▪ It’s illegal to photograph your ballot. Voters can use their cell phones or other electronic devices inside the voting booth to access candidate information, but they can’t take a photo of their ballot or communicate with anyone while voting.
▪ Curbside voting is an option for voters who sign a sworn statement saying they can’t enter the polling place without assistance because of age or disability. It is not available for voters who don’t want to wait in line.
▪ You can wear political attire, but only certain types. Your clothing can say the name of a candidate, but poll workers might ask you to cover up if your clothing says to “vote for” the candidate.
▪ You can leave contests blank, and your ballot will still count.
▪ Candidate supporters and volunteers might be outside the voting site handing out flyers and information about candidates. This is allowed by law as long as they are outside the marked buffer zone. Aggressive campaigners or those inside the buffer zone can be reported to an election official.
For the full list of need-to-knows and expectations, visit ncsbe.gov/news.
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
