Where to vote, when the polls close, ID cards

The highly anticipated 2024 elections are here, with voting starting on November 5th.

Early voting has ended in Buncombe County. The deadline for applying for postal votes is October 29th. In Western North Carolina, mail-in ballots must be returned to the board of elections in person or received by mail by the polls close on Election Day.

Here you will find answers to your questions about Election Day.

When is election day?

Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.

When do polling stations close on Election Day?

In North Carolina, polls are open for 13 hours, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In Buncombe County, you can vote as long as your turn is in by 7:30 p.m.

Where can you vote?

WNC is still recovering from the extensive damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene to the region. However, polling locations performed “better than expected” during the storm, according to the Buncombe County Elections Office.

Several locations were relocated due to damage. To find your location before Nov. 5, click on “Revised County Locations” at buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/Election. Affected voters in Buncombe County also should have received mailings informing them of their new polling locations.

Who is on the ballot?

To prepare to vote, find a sample ballot using NC Voter Search at ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot.

How many people voted early?

Buncombe County saw record early voting turnout, with just over 116,000 ballots cast as of Nov. 2, according to election officials. This exceeds the number of early voting votes in 2020 by 10,000 voters.

Do I need ID to vote? What you should bring with you to the election

On Election Day, you must present a valid photo ID or fill out a photo ID exemption form when voting. Acceptable IDs for NC voters include:

NC driver’s license.
NCDMV State ID (also called “Non-Operator ID”).
Driver’s license or non-driver’s license from another state, District of Columbia or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election).
US passport or US passport card.
NC photo voter ID card issued by a county election authority.
Student identification card from a college or university approved by the State Board of Elections.
State or local government or charter school employee ID card approved by the State Board of Elections.
U.S. government-issued military or veteran ID card (with photo).
Tribal registration card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the state of North Carolina or the federal government.

A voter who is 65 years of age or older may use an expired acceptable ID if the ID had not yet expired on their 65th birthday.

Exceptions to photo IDs include “reasonable impediments.” These obstacles may include lost or stolen identification, disability, illness and school or work schedules, as well as religious objections to photography.

Reasonable impediment also includes being a victim of a state or nationally declared natural disaster within 100 days of Election Day.

You can also obtain a voter ID card at the Buncombe Election Services office at 59 Woodfin Place in Asheville. No documents are required, just your name, date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number.

For more information about voter ID requirements, visit ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-id.

Iris Seaton is the featured news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].