North Carolina State University students wait in line to vote in the primaries at Pullen Community Center on March 15, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Getty)
North Carolina voters go to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the presidential race, along with the state’s U.S. Senate seats, its U.S. House seats, and its state House and Senate seats.
Here’s what you need to know as you head to the polls in North Carolina:
POLLING HOURS & LOCATIONS: Polling locations will be open from 6:30am until 7:30pm on Election Day. Voters will still be entitled to vote if they are standing in line when the polls close at 7:30pm. Voters are NOT required to show photo ID, but new voters are asked to provide proof of identification. More details on the requirements can be found here.
There are three ways to find out what polling place you should use to vote on Election Day. First, on your mailed voter registration card you will find printed the details of your particular polling place. Second, you can search for your polling location by address or precinct at the State Board of Elections website here. Third, if you are not able to find your polling place using the Secretary of State website, you can find and contact your county board of elections office here.
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES: To be eligible to vote in the state of North Carolina you must meet a set of criteria found here, and you must also be registered to vote. The deadline for voter registration was October 14 and it is not possible to register to vote on election day. You can confirm your voter registration status using this link. More information about eligibility, registration, and the voting process in North Carolina can be found here.
TRACKING RESULTS: On Election Day the website for the North Carolina State Board of Elections will begin posting unofficial results here after the polls close at 7:30pm.
WHAT’S AT STAKE IN FEDERAL RACES: North Carolina has 15 electoral votes and is considered a key battleground state in the presidential election, with the majority of contests typically going to Democratic candidates. However, since 2000 the state has voted for the Republican candidate in all match-ups except for 2008 when the state was won by Barack Obama. In a comparison of numerous polls by The New York Times the state is leaning in Clinton’s favor. The U.S. Senate in North Carolina is also relatively tight. Republican incumbent Senator Richard Burr is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Deborah Ross and Libertarian Challenger Sean Haugh. The latest Huffington Post Pollster averages show Burr with a slight lead of less than two points over Ross. There will be 13 candidates up for election to represent North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives, one representing each of the state’s congressional districts. Currently Republicans hold 10 of the 13 seats, while Democrats hold only three seats. For a full list of representatives on the ballot in North Carolina click here.
WHAT’S AT STAKE IN STATE RACES: Republicans have a government trifecta in the state of North Carolina, with majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate, along with holding the governorship. In the state Senate, Republicans hold 34 of 50 total seats, and all 50 seats are up for election this fall. In the state House of Representatives all seats are up for election, with Republicans holding 74 of 120 total seats (with one unaffiliated). Republican Pat McCrory has served as Governor of North Carolina since 2013 and is up for re-election this November against Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper.