North Carolina Voter Guide 2024: Who's running, how, where, when to vote in NC election
North Carolina will hold a statewide primary election on March 5. It is one of 15 states to vote on Super Tuesday.
Your guide to North Carolina's 2024 primary election
Start with your address for a step-by-step guide to register, learn about the candidates on your ballot and to plan a date, time and place to cast your vote.
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.
How do I vote in North Carolina?
Vote on primary Election Day, March 5
Primary Election Day in North Carolina is March 5. 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 must 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.
Republicans and Democrats have to vote in their party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose one or the other.
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.
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.
Return a ballot by mail
Those who requested and completed a mail-in ballot must have them returned by by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — March 5 for the North Carolina primary elections and Nov. 5 for the general election.
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 on Election Day to your county board of elections.
How can I learn more about the candidates and issues on the ballot?
WRAL News reports daily on the races, the issues and the people of the 2024 election.
Offices from the president of the United States down to local seats on the school board may be on your ballot. Among the races to watch:
- U.S. President: There will be eight Republicans, one Democrat and 11 Libertarian presidential candidates on North Carolina primary ballots. President Joe Biden is seeking to win North Carolina after losing the state to Trump in 2020. Trump is the Republican frontrunner. A recent Meredith Poll shows Trump with a lead lead over Biden. A Trump win in the primary could boost a Republican gubernatorial candidate down ticket.
- U.S. House of Representatives: There are currently seven Democrats and seven Republicans representing North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. New Congressional districts drawn last year are expected to favor Republicans. The most important primaries to watch in WRAL’s viewing area are the GOP contests for District 1 and District 13.
- District 13 currently consists mostly of Johnston County and parts of Wake County. Incumbent Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, isn’t seeking reelection after state GOP lawmakers redrew the district to become heavily Republican. Whoever wins the Republican primary will be the strong favorite to win in November. There are 14 candidates in that race, none of whom have ever held office before. There’s no Democratic primary because there is only one Democratic candidate: Frank Pierce.
- In District 1, which covers most of Northeastern North Carolina from the outskirts of the Triangle to the coast, Democratic Rep. Don Davis is seeking reelection. The area has been represented by a Democrat for decades, but new voting lines make the district a tossup. Davis doesn’t face a primary challenger, nor does Libertarian Party nominee Tom Bailey. The GOP primary is between Sandy Smith and Laurie Buckhout.
- U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross faces a challenger in Wake County’s District 2 Democratic primary. There are also three Republicans vying for the seat. The seat is expected to go to a Democrat in November.
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- State Auditor
- State Treasurer
- Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Attorney General
- Agriculture Commissioner
- Labor Commissioner
- Insurance Commissioner
- State Senator
- State Representative
- N.C. Supreme Court
- N.C. Court of Appeals
Enter your address above to see profiles of each of the candidates on your ballot and their answers to questions about the issues of the day. We asked questions on issues ranging from immigration and the border to job creation and inflation, from marijuana to school funding to public safety.
Step through the voter guide to compare candidates side-by-side, make your choices on a sample ballot and print and save it to take along to the polls.
Many counties have elections for boards of commissioners and boards of education. Your town or city may also have elections for mayor and seats on the municipal governing board.
Make your voice heard. Register to vote in North Carolina
If you were not registered by Feb. 9, 2024, you won't be able to vote Tuesday in the primary election.
There is another registration period ahead of November's general election. The deadline is Oct. 11.
You can register to vote in North Carolina either in person – at any North Carolina DMV office – or by mail.
