Accessible Voting in North Carolina
The Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Election is over. Thank you for voting!
- You can register to vote during early voting, but not on Election Day.
- All voters can request a ballot by mail.
- Early voting locations are open before Election Day
- Voters with disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
Accessible Voting Tips
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to vote privately and independently, at an accessible voting location, on an accessible voting system.
If you need more information or assistance using your right to vote, these organizations can help
- Visit your state Help for Voters with Disabilities page or call (919) 814-0700 for the options available in your state.
- Contact your local election office for help voting and details about local support for accessible voting.
- Your local Center for Independent Living has information and other support.
- Call your state National Disability Rights Network (NRDN) Protection & Advocacy office if someone is interfering with your right to vote.
- If you are a first-time voter or moved recently, check the voter ID requirements in your state. VoteRiders has information about the types of identification accepted.
- You can also call 1-800-OUR-VOTE to report any problems voting.
Your rights
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to:
- Vote privately and independently
- At an accessible polling place
- Using an accessible voting system
If you need assistance you can:
- Ask an election worker, or
- Bring someone to help you
You may request your local election officials to tell you about any voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available.
Election officials must make any reasonable accommodations you need to vote. This might include
- A place to sit if you have trouble standing
- A quiet, private place to vote
You cannot be refused the right to vote because an election worker thinks your disability means you are not qualified to vote.
Open the sections on this page to learn more about accessible options for early voting, voting in person on election day, and voting by mail.
Accessible voting features in North Carolina for voters with disabilities
- Sign up each year to receive a ballot by mail for all elections
- Voters with print disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
Ask your local election office about other support for accessible voting, like:
- Election and voting information in large print, audio, or Braille versions.
- Curbside or drive-up voting, so you don’t have to get out of your car.
- Ballot delivery to your home or a “ride to the polls” program.
- An opportunity to practice using the accessible voting system.
- Emergency voting options if you are hospitalized or ill.
- How to get assistance in marking and casting your ballot.
- Other services or assistance for voters with disabilities.
Learn more about the laws that protect your rights
Early voting is voting in person before Election Day, which is usually less crowded than going to vote on Election Day itself. There are different kinds of early voting, so check the options available for you. They might include:
- vote centers where you can vote at any location in your jurisdiction
- super polling places where you are assigned a location
- voting at an elections office or satellite office
- in-person absentee, where you go to an elections office, get your mail ballot, and then mark and cast it in the office.
Early voting is called One-Stop voting in North Carolina.
October 20 through November 5, early voting is available at One-Stop voting sites and your local election office during business hours Monday through Friday.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- Same-day registration is available at designated early voting locations.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations for your jurisdiction.
Find an early voting center near you.
When you vote in person on Election Day, you go to a voting center to mark and cast your ballot in person. Every in-person voting location is required to have accessible voting systems available.
Polling places are open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
You can drop off your mail ballot at your local elections office on Election Day.
Find your polling place.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in North Carolina are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
AutoMARK
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on the front of the device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using an AutoMARK
- Short video from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 3:55)
- Video from NY City Board of Elections (YouTube 13:47)
ES&S ExpressVote
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ExpressVote
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 1:53)
- Video from Michigan (You Tube 12:29)
- Information about ExpressVote from Pennsylvania
Hart InterCivic Verity Touch Writer
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls using the Hart “move wheel.”
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
The ballot is cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using the Touch Writer
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Voting by mail can be an accessible option for voters with disabilities. It lets you vote at home, so you can mark, verify and return a paper ballot privately and independently. Some states have emergency options if you are hospitalized or ill. |
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked by Election Day, November 8 and received by November 11 for mailed ballots.
How to get your ballot
- All voters can request a ballot.
- All voters must request a ballot for each election.
- Voters with disabilities can sign up to receive a ballot for all elections in a year.
To get your ballot you can:
- Request a ballot online.
- Download, print, and mail a request form.
- You must provide the number from your state-issued photo ID, such as your driver's license.
- If you don't have a state-issued photo ID, you can use your Social Security Number.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At your local elections office
At an early voting location
Find a ballot drop-off location near you at your local elections website.
Make sure your ballot counts! Remember...
If you mail your ballot, make sure it is postmarked by Election Day.
Put enough postage on the envelope.
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
Two people or a notary must also sign as a witness.
- A family member, household member, or caregiver can return your ballot for you. Contact your local elections office for more information.
- Voters with disabilities can appoint someone to return their ballot for them. Contact your local elections office for more information.
- If someone helped you, have them complete the form for assistants.
Learn about accessible voting by mail options in the next card.
Accessible voting by mail allows voters with disabilities to mark a mail-in ballot electronically, using their own technology and assistive tools.
To use accessible tools for voting by mail, typically voters:
- Download an electronic ballot to mark using personal technology
- Print the ballot and any signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
- Return it by mail or to a ballot drop off locatoin
Some states allow electronic return by email, fax, or a secure portal.
There is a statewide accessible vote by mail program in North Carolina called Accessible Absentee Voting
- You can use accessible vote by mail if you have a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot.
Blind or visually impaired voters in North Carolina, may request, mark, and return an accessible absentee ballot online.
There are detailed instructions on the elections website for how to:
- Request your accessible ballot online
- Your local elections office will email you when your ballot is ready
- Mark your ballot in the presence of two witnesses
- Sign and submit your ballot
There is an Absentee Demo Ballot Portal you can use to see how the system works.
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked by Election Day, November 8 and received by November 11 for mailed ballots.
Returning a printed ballot
The Accessible Absentee Ballot is returned through a secure online portal.
When you have finished marking the ballot
- Digitally sign the voter certification with your finger, mouse, or stylus. You can type your name if you cannot sign
- Your two witnesses or assistant must complete a form and digitally sign their names
- Submit your ballot
Returning your ballot electronically
You have the option for electronic ballot return:
- Through a secure portal
The systems in use in North Carolina for accessible voting by mail are:
DemocracyLive OmniBallot Portal
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Delivers and returns ballot through a secure online portal.
Creates a paper facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot for tabulation.
Voters have the option to print and mail their ballot.
Claims WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility.
Learn more about using Omni Ballot
- Democracy Live Website
- Short tutorial from Democracy Live (YouTube :30)
- Electronic return process from Democracy Live (YouTube 11:28)
Learn more about accessible voting options in North Carolina