In addition to our coverage of contested local races in Buncombe County, Mountain Xpress hopes to clear up some frequently asked questions about the process of voting in 2024’s primary election. Below, you’ll find short explainers on when, where and with what information ballots can be cast.
Buncombe County’s 2024 primary voting timeline
Here are some important deadlines of which to be aware so you make sure your vote is counted.
- Thursday, Feb. 15: Early voting begins at 11 locations across Buncombe County. Sites are open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Voters also can deliver absentee ballots to these sites. Eligible individuals not yet registered to vote may use “one-stop” combined registration and voting at early voting sites.
- Sunday, Feb. 25: The only available Sunday to vote. Hours are 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 27: Last day to request an absentee ballot.
- Saturday, March 2: Last day for early voting in Buncombe County. Polls are open 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 5: Primary election day. In-person voting will be held in 80 county precincts. Polls are open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Find your sample ballot
To find sample ballots and check voter registration status, visit the N.C. State Board of Elections voter search website at avl.mx/6nq.
After searching, the system will display a list of matching names. Selecting your name takes you to a page with sample ballots, the address of your primary election day polling place and the jurisdictions of your representatives. If you voted absentee, this page also shows the status of your ballot.
If your name does not show up, you are not registered to vote in North Carolina. If you believe this is an error, contact your county Board of Elections.
Voters are encouraged to fill out a sample ballot in advance to minimize time spent in a polling place.
Vote by mail
If you’d like to vote by mail, request an absentee ballot through the N.C. State Board of Elections’ online ballot request portal (avl.mx/8ii) or fill out and submit an absentee ballot request form by mail. All forms must be returned to the county Board of Elections by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 5; request forms can be mailed, emailed, faxed or brought to the county election office in person by the voter or a near relative.
When your ballot arrives, follow the enclosed directions. You must mark the ballot in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses, who must sign the absentee ballot envelope upon completion.
The completed absentee ballot can be mailed back to the county Board of Elections (you will need your own postage stamp) or delivered to any early-voting site or the county Board of Elections. An absentee ballot can be delivered by a near relative, but it must arrive at the Board of Elections or be dropped off by 5 p.m on primary election day, Tuesday, March 5.
Absentee voters can sign up for text or email updates on the status of their ballot through BallotTrax (avl.mx/8il), run through the N.C. State Board of Elections.
Bring your ID!
Voters are required to show photo identification. Most government-issued IDs are accepted: driver’s license, passport, military or student. A list of all types of ID that can be used for voting is available at avl.mx/czr. For information on how to get a free ID, visit avl.mx/dd0.
According to the N.C. State Board of Elections: “All voters will be allowed to vote with or without a photo ID. If the voter does not show an acceptable ID, the voter may vote with an ID Exception Form and a provisional ballot, or vote with a provisional ballot and return to their county board of elections office with their photo ID by the day before county canvass.” For more information, visit avl.mx/dd2.
Having trouble? Call the N.C. State Board of Elections at 919-814-0700, the Buncombe County Board of Elections at 828-250-4200 or 866-OUR-VOTE, a nonpartisan election support hotline by the nonprofit Election Protection.
Other voter guides
The following nonpartisan voter guides offer information and candidate profiles for state and national races:
- Vote411, a bilingual voter guide sponsored by the League of Women Voters, can be personalized to match your sample ballot.
- Democracy NC offers a comprehensive guide to Asheville races.
- The NC Values Coalition has teamed up with iVoterGuide to create a nonpartisan voter guide that scores candidates on their adherence to “life, family and religious freedoms.”
- The N.C. State Board of Elections 2024 Judicial Voter Guide focuses solely on candidates running for seats on the N.C. Court of Appeals.
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