Election Day is Nov. 5.

Who is on the ballot in North Carolina?

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Harris, Trump top presidential ballot

The presidential race drives election turnout.

The 2024 campaign has been unprecedented and tumultuous.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won the primary to run for re-election, but he dropped out of the race after a June debate performance that raised questions about his stamina and mental competence. His vice president, Kamala Harris, took over at the top of the ticket and chose Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate.

Former President Donald J. Trump, the Republican whom Biden beat in 2020, is running for again. Trump is only eligible to serve one more term. He named JD Vance, a senator from Ohio, as his running mate.

Also seeking the presidency are Chase Oliver (Libertarian); Jill Stein (Green); Randall Terry (Constitution); and Cornel West (Justice For All).

Harris and Trump are in a neck-and-neck race in North Carolina. Many analysts see the state’s 16 electoral votes as critical to winning the White House. Trump won North Carolina by less than 75,000 votes in 2020. Some political scientists predict a narrower margin in 2024.

North Carolina will have a new governor

North Carolina is also one of 13 states with a governor's race on the ballot.

Democrat Roy Cooper has reached his limit of two consecutive terms. Vying to replace him are Democrat and current Attorney General Josh Stein, and Republican and current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Also running: Mike Ross (Libertarian); Vinny Smith (Constitution); and Wayne Turner (Green).

Stein holds a commanding lead in recent polls. Robinson has lost support from conservatives in recent weeks following a CNN report that said he made lewd and racist comments on a pornographic website more than a decade ago. Robinson denies the allegations.

Cooper supports Stein. Robinson was endorsed by Trump, but Trump has distanced himself from Robinson, particularly in the wake of the CNN report. Robinson denies the allegations made in the report.

State schools race gains national attention

North Carolina's lieutenant governor and the rest of the Council of State — executive branch officials who lead various state departments — are also on the ballot.

In the race for state superintendent, Democrat Mo Green and Republican Michele Morrow are in a virtual tie, recent polls show. Green is a former Guilford County Schools superintendent and former director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. Morrow, a former nurse and teacher at a homeschool co-op, won the Republican primary over incumbent Catherine Truitt. Truitt hasn’t endorsed either candidate and has said she won’t endorse Morrow. Morrow has faced criticism for social media posts that have advocated for the execution of prominent Democrats and advanced conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, vaccines and mass shootings.

Every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs in 2024, which means that North Carolinians will have the chance to choose who to send to Congress.

More North Carolinians are likely to be represented by Republicans in the U.S. Congress after the election. That’s because of new election districts that became law last year. There are currently seven Democrats and seven Republicans representing North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new districts are expected to yield a delegation of at least 10 Republicans.

Davis faces Buckhout in District 1

District 1, which covers most of Northeastern North Carolina from the outskirts of the Triangle to the coast, is expected to be one of the closest congressional races in the country. Democratic Rep. Don Davis is seeking reelection. Republican Laurie Buckhout is seeking to unseat him. The area has been represented by a Democrat for decades, but new voting lines make the district a tossup. Tom Bailey is the Libertarian Party nominee.

Voters will also cast ballots for judges and in local races for municipal and school board leaders.

One seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court and three seats on the North Carolina Court of Appeals are up for grabs. The Supreme Court seat is the one to watch. Allison Riggs was appointed to the seat after Justice Mike Morgan stepped down to run for governor. Riggs is running to keep the seat. She faces Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin. The high court currently has a 5-2 Republican majority, so a Griffin win would shift that to 6-1 in favor of the GOP.

In Wake County, the school board, Raleigh mayor and city council are on the ballot. Cumberland County voters will also choose members for the school board.

Voters statewide will also vote whether to approve a new constitutional amendment, reaffirming the state’s existing rule that only U.S. citizens may vote in North Carolina elections.

What is different in 2024?

There are a few big changes to note since the last presidential election in 2020:

  • You’ll need to present an approved form of photo identification. If you don’t have one, you can still vote by filling out an “reasonable impediment” form explaining why. In that case, you’ll have to vote a provisional ballot.
    • There’s a shorter acceptance window for mail-in ballots. They now have to get to your county elections office no later than 7:30pm on Election Day.
      • Some election rules have changed for 25 counties affected by Helene.
        • Getting results will take longer than it did in 2020. New laws prevent election officials from tallying early in-person votes till the polls close Election Day. Although the law was written by Republican legislators last year, the short delay it caused prompted conspiracy theories among conservative voters during the primary election this March.

          When can I vote in North Carolina?

          Early voting begins Oct. 17 and runs through Nov. 2

          Mail-in voting has begun. Voters have until Oct. 29 to request a ballot. Ballots must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.

          Early voting runs from Oct. 17 at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 2. Voters can cast ballots at any early voting site in the county where they’re registered to vote. Early voting days and times vary according to county.

          Enter your home address here to see the candidates on your ballot and the times and location for early voting in your county.

          People who aren't registered to vote, or who need to update their address, name or other information, can also register in person during early voting using a driver’s license or other acceptable proof of ID.

          Voters in western North Carolina counties affected by Hurricane Helene should check with their county boards of election on the status of local polling places, for early voting as well as on election day.

          Why do we need your address?

          The WRAL Voter Guide is based on your address because your ballot varies by where you live. Enter your address to see the races and candidates you will vote for come primary day.

          Based on your address, see and compare the candidates for each office, and read their answers to questions about the issues you care about.

          The WRAL Voter Guide uses your email address to allow you to double-check your voter registration and set a reminder for your time and place to vote.

          How do I vote in North Carolina?

          North Carolina offers all voters the option to vote by mail.

          1. Request a ballot to be mailed to you. Voters have until Oct. 29 to request a ballot, but state election officials recommend submitting a request earlier. The deadline for voters in 25 Helene-affected western counties was extended until Nov. 4.

          © WRAL

          Your ballot request must include your date of birth and one of the following to verify your identity:

          • North Carolina driver's license number or state Department of Motor Vehicles-issued identification card number; or
            • Last four digits of your Social Security number.

              2. Return your completed ballot and a copy of your photo ID — by mail or in person — to your county board of elections, or drop it off at any early voting site in your county or on Election Day to your county board of elections.

              3. If you do decide to vote by mail, election officials recommend getting your ballot into the mail at least a week before Election Day.

              4. Ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — Nov. 5 for the general election.

              Some election rules have changed for 25 counties affected by Helene.

              Vote early, in person

              Enter your address for the days, times and locations of early voting in your county.

              During the early voting period, registered voters can cast a ballot at any open location in the county where they live. Locations and times vary, but early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 17 through Saturday, Nov. 2. People can also register to vote at these locations during the early-voting period.

              Some election rules have changed for 25 counties affected by Helene.

              Vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 5

              Election Day is Nov. 5 across the country.

              All registered voters can cast a ballot that day. All polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day, voters should vote in their assigned polling place, and anyone in line at 7:30 p.m., when polls close, will be allowed to cast their ballot.

              Find your assigned polling place by looking up your name on the state’s online voter lookup tool.

              For voters in the 25 western counties affected by Helene-related emergency orders, some might not be able to vote in the normal precincts. Look out for updates from your county elections board if planning to vote on Election Day in one of those western counties.

              Voter ID required in North Carolina

              No matter when you vote, you will need to show a driver’s license or another approved form of photo ID to vote in North Carolina in 2024, unless you qualify for an exemption or live in one of the counties under emergency natural disaster orders.

              The North Carolina State Board of Elections has published a list of dozens of acceptable forms of ID, including many school and college IDs, military or veterans photo ID or tribal enrollment cards with photo.

              Voters living in counties under an emergency declaration for Helene will receive an automatic exemption from the state’s new voter photo identification rules.

              Election coverage