Mecklenburg County voters can start casting ballots Thursday, Oct. 15, when early in-person voting opens for the Nov. 3 general election.

The early voting period runs through Saturday, Oct. 31, with polls closing at 3 p.m. that final day, WBTV reported. Hours vary by site and day during the early voting window; the State Board of Elections website lists each location's full schedule. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. statewide.

During early voting, Mecklenburg residents can vote at any early voting site in the county. On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned polling place. The North Carolina State Board of Elections lists early voting locations by county on its website.

Same-day registration still available

Missed the Oct. 9 registration deadline? Eligible residents can register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day.

To register during early voting, a person must have lived in Mecklenburg County for at least 30 days before the election. Proof of residence is required: a North Carolina driver's license, another government-issued photo ID with a current address, or a document such as a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck showing the voter's name and address.

Photo ID required

North Carolina voters must show photo identification when checking in. Acceptable forms include a state driver's license, U.S. passport, military ID, tribal enrollment card with photo, or an approved college student ID. Voters who cannot present an acceptable photo ID can still cast a ballot by filling out an ID Exception Form.

Key dates

  • Thursday, Oct. 15: Early voting begins
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20: Absentee ballot request deadline, 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Early voting ends at 3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day, polls open 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

What's on the Ballantyne-area ballot

Two southeast Mecklenburg races decided by razor-thin margins in 2024 will be on the ballot, Axios Charlotte reported.

In State Senate District 42, Democratic incumbent Sen. Woodson Bradley faces Republican challenger Stacie McGinn. Bradley, 53, a realtor, won their 2024 matchup by just 209 votes in a race that went to a recount. McGinn, 67, is a lawyer and former Bank of America executive, according to the Charlotte Observer's voter guide. The district's registered voters are roughly 30% Republican, 25% Democrat and 44% unaffiliated.

Bradley said in an Oct. 1 Charlotte Observer voter questionnaire that her top priority is "the introduction of the North Carolina Domestic Violence Registry."

In House District 105, Republican incumbent Rep. Tricia Cotham faces Democrat Ken McCool, a former Matthews commissioner. Cotham switched from Democrat to Republican in April 2023, according to Axios Charlotte. She won her last race by 213 votes. The district's registered voters are roughly 33% Republican, 24% Democrat and 43% unaffiliated.

Voters can preview their full sample ballot at the State Board of Elections website by searching their name at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.