Local first. That’s how BPR’s voter guides are set up. You may know about the presidential election, but we're here to make sure you know how to vote at the local level, too. While there is a national focus on the Presidential election, do you know who you are voting for at the local level? Often local and state politicians impact the daily life of voters much more than national figures who command much of the media’s attention.
Scroll down to see your county’s local, state and federal level candidates as well as where to find your sample ballot.
Scroll down to see your county’s local, state and federal level candidates as well as where to find your sample ballot.
Here are the dates that you need to know
Early voting is underway!
October 17: Early Voting starts
During early voting, same-day voter registration is available if you’ve lived in the county where you are registering for at least 30 days. Voters can also update their name or address within the same county. Same-day registration requires proof of your current address, such as a driver’s license or current utility bill. Early voting ends November 2.
October 29: Absentee ballot request deadline
Anyone can request an absentee ballot, also known as a mail-in ballot, for any reason. Absentee ballots can be requested on the Board of Elections website or through the county board of elections. These ballots can be requested now and will be sent starting September 6. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. This is a new rule. Leave plenty of time to ensure your ballot arrives by Nov. 5.
November 2: Early Voting ends
During early voting, voters can turn in their ballots and take advantage of same-day registration. After early voting, voters will not be able to update their voter registration. Early voting runs from October 17 to November 2. Check your county board of elections schedule to see the hours early voting is open in your county.
November 5: Election Day
Voters should check out a sample ballot, do their research and head to the polls. Voters need to bring their photo ID. Voters should also check their voter registration or with their county board of elections to find their precinct.
The deadlines are different for military and overseas citizens in many cases. Check the NC Board of Elections website for those deadlines. If you have questions, reach out to your county Board of Elections office.
November 15: County Canvass
Canvass is the official process of determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly. Then the county officially authenticates the official election results. In every county, the canvass meeting when the results are certified is 10 days after Election Day.
North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections will each meet to certify their results for the 2024 general election at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15.
Information for your general election races by county
Buncombe County Voter Guide and Asheville City Council Guide
Check out your sample ballot to make your choices before you head to the polls. You can even print off the sample ballot to take with you to the polls.
- Cherokee County – sample ballots
- Clay County – sample ballots
- Macon County – sample ballots (Scroll left sidebar)
- Graham County – sample ballots
- Swain County – sample ballots
- Jackson County – sample ballots
- Haywood County – sample ballots (Under Quick Links on left sidebar)
- Transylvania County – sample ballots
- Buncombe County – sample ballots
- Henderson County – sample ballots
- McDowell County – sample ballots (Scroll to bottom left)
- Madison County – sample ballots
- Polk County – sample ballots
The whole BPR News team contributed to send out these surveys and put together the guide: Gerard Albert III, Helen Chickering, Laura Hackett, Laura Lee, Lilly Knoepp, Katie Myers, Stephanie Rogers and Felicia Sonmez.
Nada Merghani contributed editing to the guides for Buncombe, McDowell, Madison, Polk, Swain, Jackson and Macon Counties.