The New Hanover County Democratic Party - Voter Information

Registration

Registration closes 25 days before an election, but there is no need to wait! Register as a Democrat today!

You can register to vote and vote in elections in New Hanover county if you are the following:

• A citizen of the United States.
• A resident of North Carolina and New Hanover County for 30 days prior to an election.
• At least 18 years of age by the date of the next general election.
• Not registered to vote in any other county or state.
• Not a convicted felon. If you are, your citizenship rights must be restored.
• Timely in registering at least 25 days before an election.

All new registrations MUST be on an application form and is also available en espanol. You may also pick up an application form from one of the following locations located throughout the county.

Completed forms should be signed and either mailed to or dropped off at:

New Hanover County Board of Elections
230 Government Center Drive
Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403

Upon receipt of your application, it will be processed by the Board of Elections office and a voter registration card will be sent to you verifying your address. Keep this card for your records.

If you should move, you must notify the Board of Elections in writing and it must include your signature. You can use the back of your voter registration card to change your information. You will then receive an updated voter registration card which will include your new polling place.

If you are living outside of the United States and do not have a home (legal) address in this country or if you are serving in the military, you can use the Federal Post Card Application to register. This application can also be obtained from military bases, American embassies or consular offices.

First time voters who registered by mail or by voter registration drive must present valid ID prior to the act of voting on election day. However, if you provided a drivers license number or the last four digits of your social security number on your application for validiation purposes, you are not required to show ID on election day.

Forms of acceptable ID:

1. A current and valid photo identification.
2. A current utility bill that shows the name and address of the voter.
3. A bank statement that shows the name and address of the voter.
4. A government check that shows the name and address of the voter.
5. A paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter.
6. Another government document that shows the name and address of the voter.

Absentee Voting by Mail

Any registered voter is authorized to vote by mailing in an absentee ballot for any primary or election conducted by the Board of Elections.

Beginning 50 days before the election, a signed, written request for an absentee ballot may be submitted by mail or in person to the Board of Elections by the voter or the voter's near relative (spouse, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, step-parent or step-child). Written requests must be received in the office no later than the Tuesday prior to the election.

A request from the voter should include all of the following: Name, Residential Address, Date of Birth, Address to Mail the Absentee Ballot to and the Voter's Signature.

A request from the voter's near relative should include all of the following: Voter's Name, Voter's Residential Address, Voter's Date of Birth, the Address to mail the absentee ballot to, Near Relative's Name, Near Relative's Residential Address, Near Relative's Relationship to the Voter and the Near Relative's Signature.

If the voter is qualified, an application and ballot will be mailed to the voter after the written request is received. The voted ballot must be returned to the Board of Elections office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the election in order to be counted.

If the person wishing to vote by absentee ballot by mail, registered by mail after January 1, 2003 and did not provide a copy of identification for verification, then a copy of one of the following must be submitted with the absentee ballot.

1. A current and valid photo identification.
2. A current utility bill that shows the name and address of the voter.
3. A bank statement that shows the name and address of the voter.
4. A government check that shows the name and address of the voter.
5. A paycheck that shows the name and address of the voter.
6. Another government document that shows the name and address of the voter.

Mail the request and the absentee ballot to:

New Hanover County Board of Elections
230 Government Center Drive
Suite 180
Wilmington, NC 28403

One Stop Absentee Voting

One stop voting begins no earlier than the third Thursday before an election and extends no later than 1:00 p.m. on the Saturday prior to election day.

If you miss the registration deadline and still wish to register and vote, you can appear in person at a one stop voting location, complete the voter registration application, attesting that you are qualified to vote, and provide proof of residency by presenting valid documentation showing current name and address.

To be qualified to vote in New Hanover County you must be 18 years old by the date of the next general election, a United States citizen and a resident of New Hanover County. You can not be a convicted felon, unless your rights of citizenship have been restored.

Acceptable forms of ID to verify residency are:

• North Carolina Drivers License with current address
• A utility bill with name and current address such as:
  a telephone bill or cell phone bill
  an electric or gas bill
  a cable television bill
  a water or sewage bill
• A document with name and current address from a local, state or U.S. government agency, such as:
  passport
  government issued photo ID
  U.S. military ID
  a license to fish, hunt, own a gun, etc.
  a property tax bill
  automobile registration
  certified document of naturalization
  public housing or Social Service agency document
  a check, letter or invoice from a government agency
  a birth certificate
• A student ID along with a document from the school showing the student's name and current address
• A paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement
• A bank statement or a bank issued credit card statement

If you have any questions, please call the New Hanover County Board of Elections at (910) 798-7330.