Overview of Current Elections
Keep reading to learn more or click the links below to jump to a subject on this page.
2024 Second Primary Election
A second primary will take place on May 14, 2024, for the following contests:
- Republican nomination for lieutenant governor:
- Hal Weatherman
- Jim O’Neill
- Republican nomination for state auditor:
- Jack Clark
- Dave Boliek
- Republican nomination for U.S. House District 13:
- Kelly Daughtry
- Brad Knott
Under state law, a second-place candidate in a primary may request a second primary if no candidate receives more than 30% of the votes cast in that contest.
Also, on the county level, a second primary will be held for:
- Republican nomination for the South Point Township District on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners:
- Jim Bailey
- Ronnie Worley
And in Orange County, a runoff will take place for:
- A third seat on the Orange County Schools Board of Education:
- Jennifer Moore
- Bonnie Hauser
Under Determination of primary results; second primaries. N.C.G.S. § 163-111, the top candidate for a single office who receives more than 30% of the vote in a primary wins their party’s nomination and moves on to the general election. If no candidate in a primary receives more than 30% of the vote, the candidate who receives the second-highest vote total may demand a second primary. The top two vote-getters would be on the ballot for the second primary.
To view second primary requests, go to the 2024 second primary requests folder.
For multi-seat contests, a candidate is nominated who receives more than 30% of the votes cast for all candidates, divided by the number of seats to be filled. If not enough candidates attain the required vote totals to be declared nominees for all seats to be filled, the remaining seats would be filled by those remaining candidates who received the highest vote totals, unless a second primary is requested by one or all of the candidates for that number of remaining seats and who received the next highest vote totals. The candidates receiving the highest vote totals to fill the remaining seats and any runner-up candidates who demand a second primary would be on the second primary ballot.
Who is Eligible to Vote in a Second Primary?
All voters who live in the district for which a second primary is conducted and are registered with the political party of the candidates are eligible to vote in the second primary. For example, if a second primary is held for the Democratic primary in a congressional district, then all registered Democrats who live in that congressional district would be eligible.
Unaffiliated voters who live in that district and either didn’t vote in the primary, or who voted the ballot of the party for which the second primary is being held, would also be eligible. For the example above, unaffiliated voters who voted a nonpartisan, Republican, or Libertarian ballot in the first primary would not be eligible to vote in a second primary for Democratic Party candidates.
In counties where second primaries are held, new registration of voters is not permitted between the first and second primaries. This means same-day registration is not available during early voting for the second primary. However, individuals who become eligible to vote between the primary and second primary and who are otherwise eligible to vote in the second primary may register and vote on the day of the second primary — May 14.
Early Voting Sites
In-person early voting for the May 14, 2024, second primary election begins Thursday, April 25, and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Early voting sites and schedules are available at the Early Voting Site Search. Locations and voting hours are also available at Early Voting Sites for the May 14, 2024 Election (PDF).
Dates and Deadlines
Here are voter dates and deadlines for the 2024 second primary election in North Carolina:
- March 30, 2024: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form.
- April 25, 2024: In-person early voting begins.
- May 7, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*
- May 11, 2024: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
- May 14, 2024: Election Day.
- May 14, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*
Find other important dates for the election on our web calendar: Voter Dates & Deadlines.
*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.
2024 General Election
North Carolina will hold its general election on Nov. 5, 2024. Below, review which offices are up for election, dates, deadlines, voting tips and more.
Offices up for Election
Offices up for election in 2024 include the following:
- U.S. President
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- State Auditor
- State Treasurer
- Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Attorney General
- Agriculture Commissioner
- Labor Commissioner
- Insurance Commissioner
- State Senator
- State Representative
- N.C. Supreme Court Justice
- N.C. Court of Appeals Judge
- Superior Court Judge
- District Court Judge
- District Attorney
- County Commissioner
- Clerk of Superior Court
- Register of Deeds
Many counties have elections for boards of commissioners and boards of education. A number of municipalities also have elections for mayor and seats on the municipal governing board.
Dates and Deadlines
Here are voter dates and deadlines for the 2024 general election in North Carolina:
- Sept. 6, 2024: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form.
- Oct. 11, 2024: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.).*
- Oct. 17, 2024: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available.
- Oct. 29, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*
- Nov. 2, 2024: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
- Nov. 5, 2024: General Election Day.
- Nov. 5, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*
Find other important dates for the election on our web calendar: Voter Dates & Deadlines.
*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.
Local Voter Tool
We will update our voter tool that tracks election contests in your county for 2024. Please revisit this page later.
Important Tips for Voters
- Need to register or update your registration? See How to Register or Updating Registration.
- Check your registration: Voters can check to make sure their registration information is accurate and up to date using the Voter Search tool. There, you can also find your polling place, absentee ballot information, and more.
- Find your sample ballot: All eligible, registered voters will find their sample ballot(s) in the “Your Sample Ballot” section of their Voter Search profile when they become available. For even-year elections, sample ballots are typically available 50 days before Election Day.
- Don’t forget your photo ID: North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Learn more: Voter ID.
- Three ways to vote: Follow the links below to learn about the voting methods available to voters.