Can anyone find out how you voted or who you voted for? Facts about voting in NC
As North Carolina’s early voting period continues (through Saturday, Nov. 2) and Election Day approaches (on Tuesday, Nov. 5), some are worrying their vote will be made public.
“Women have been asking poll workers, ‘Can my husband (or parents) find out how I voted?’” a Triangle resident posted on social media this week.
The answer to this question is clear and simple: No. Your vote will not be made public.
The fact that you voted, though, is public information. Here’s what that means.
Is my vote public?
Yes: Your voter history is public, meaning anyone can find out that you participated (i.e. voted) in an election. Your method of voting (absentee, in-person Election Day, early voting, etc.) is also public.
To find this information (for yourself or anyone else), visit the NC State Board of Elections Voter Lookup tool at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
No: The candidates for which you voted are not public. So even though anyone can see your voter history (see above), they cannot see who you voted for.
Is my party affiliation public?
Yes. The Voter Lookup tool (see above) includes your party affiliation. Voters who decided not to register with a political party are registered as “unaffiliated.”
There are eight recognized political parties in North Carolina. They are, alphabetically:
- The Constitution Party
- The Democratic Party
- The Green Party
- The Justice For All Party
- The Libertarian Party
- The No Labels Party
- The Republican Party
- The We The People Party
Are campaign contributions public?
Yes, depending on the amount. The North Carolina State Board of Elections keeps a public database of individual contributions to candidates and campaigns. You can search the database at cf.ncsbe.gov/CFTxnLkup.
While this information may point to the candidate for whom you voted, your vote remains private.
The N&O’s Kyle Ingram contributed to this story.
