Election 2024: What you need to know if you plan to vote early in the Wilmington area
As the primary election approaches, residents in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties are eager to exercise their right to vote.
But did you know that voters can cast their ballots before the official Primary Election Day on March 5?
Understanding the key details and procedures for early voting is crucial for an informed and smooth voting experience. Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to vote early this year:
Who can cast a ballot?
According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), to be eligible to vote in the U.S. you must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Live in the county where you are registered and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
Be at least 18 years old.
17-year-olds may vote in the Primary Election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election.
Not be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision, or parole.
When is the voter registration deadline?
Ensuring your information is current and up-to-date is paramount. For citizens who have yet to register, the voter registration deadline for the Primary Election was Feb. 9, 2024.
However, early voters can conveniently update their names and address (granted the address remains within the same county) at any early voting site. Same-day registration is also an option at these sites, allowing voters to register and immediately cast their ballots.
Keep in mind, though, that same-day registration is not available for most voters on Primary Election Day.
Find out if you are registered to vote using the North Carolina voter search.
What are the photo ID requirements?
Voters casting ballots in the state of North Carolina will be asked to show photo identification.
The following documents, if unexpired or expired for less than one year, are forms of photo ID accepted for voting:
North Carolina driver's license
State ID from the NCDMV
Drivers license of non-driver ID from another state (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections
College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections
State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections
Additionally, voters 65 or older can present expired identification if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.
Any of the following IDs are also accepted regardless or expiration or issuance date:
Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government
Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the state or the federal government
ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the state of North Carolina for a public assistance program
For further details on acceptable photo IDs for voting, visit www.ncsbe.gov.
In-person early voting and absentee deadlines.
In person early voting begins Feb. 15 and ends March 2 at 3 p.m.
For voters who wish to cast ballots but are unable to make it to the polls in person, absentee-by-mail voting is an option.
North Carolina residents can:
Request an absentee ballot through the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal
Submit the 2024 N.C. Absentee Ballot Form Request to the county board of elections in person or by mail
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Feb. 27. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Primary Election Day.
Military and overseas voters must access their absentee ballot through the UOCAVA portal. More information about the voting process and deadlines for military members can be found at www.ncsbe.gov.
Where can you go to vote early in person?
The NCSBE provides a list of the one-stop early voting sites. Here's a list of each early voting site in the three respective counties:
New Hanover County
Cape Fear Community College- Health Sciences Learning Resource Center
415 N. Second St., Wilmington, NC 28401
Carolina Beach Town Hall, police training room
1121 N. Lake Park Blvd., Wilmington, NC 28428
Northeast Regional Library, David E. Paynter Room
1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405
New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, multi-purpose room
2222 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
All four locations are open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. during the early voting period, excluding the following exceptions -- locations will close on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18. Locations will open with altered hours on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 between noon and 5 p.m. On March 2, locations will open between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
More primary news: Meet the candidates vying for a spot on the New Hanover County ballot in November
Brunswick County
Brunswick Center at Shallotte
3620 Express Drive, Shallotte, NC 28470
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Feb. 17 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 18 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Feb. 24 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 25 closed, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cooperative Extension
25 Referendum Drive NE, Bolivia, NC 28422
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Closed Feb 17, Feb. 18, Feb. 24, Feb. 25. Open March 2 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Leland Cultural Arts Center
1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, NC 28451
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Feb. 17 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 18 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Feb. 24 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 25 closed, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunset Beach Community Center
200 Station Trail, Sunset Beach, NC 28468
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Feb. 17 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 18 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Feb. 24 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 25 closed, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Brunswick Center at Southport
1513 N. Howe St., Suite 1, Southport, NC 28461
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Feb. 17 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 18 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Feb. 24 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 25 closed, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
More primary news: Meet the candidates vying for a spot on the Brunswick County ballot in November
Pender County
Cooperative Extension Auditorium
801 S. Walker St., Burgaw, NC, 28425
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Closed Feb. 17, Feb. 18 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 24 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Closed Feb. 25, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Pender County Annex Building
15060 U.S. 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Closed Feb. 17, Feb. 18 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Feb. 24 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Closed Feb. 25, March 2 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department
19170 U.S. 421, Watha, NC 28478
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Closed Feb. 17, Feb. 18 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 24 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Closed Feb. 25, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Surf City Community Center
201 Community Center Drive, Surf City, NC 28445
Hours: 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. excluding the following exceptions -- Closed Feb. 17, Feb. 18 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 24 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Closed Feb. 25, March 2 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
More primary news: Meet the candidates vying for a spot on the Pender County ballot in November
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Early voting information for the 2024 primary in Wilmington, NC
