CARTERET COUNTY, NC (October 10, 2023) – One-stop early voting for the 2023 municipal elections in Carteret County begins on Thursday, October 19, and runs through Saturday, November 4.
Eligible voters, who reside in a municipality, can participate in early voting at three convenient locations across the county. The designated sites include the Carteret County Board of Elections office at 1702 Live Oak St., Suite 200, Beaufort; Fort Benjamin Park located at 100 McQueen Ave., Newport; and Western Park located at 275 Old Hwy 58, Cedar Point. Voters can visit any one of the three locations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. On the final day of early voting, Saturday, November 4, early voting sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Early voting allows citizens to conveniently cast their absentee ballots in person, providing an alternative to traditional Election Day voting. This process not only offers greater flexibility but also generally features shorter wait times compared to the day of the election. In addition, this year’s municipal election introduces an important change for North Carolina voters. As of the 2023 elections, voters will be required to show an acceptable photo ID when they check in at their voting site during early voting or on Election Day. Registered voters who do not have an acceptable form of identification for voting purposes can now get a free photo ID from the county board of elections office. No special documents are needed. Voters will simply provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number, and have their photo taken. To learn more about this new requirement or find a list of acceptable forms of photo ID, visit Photo ID requirements.
Residents who are not registered in Carteret County may also register to vote during the one-stop early voting period at any of the three locations. To use same-day registration, a person must complete a voter registration application and show an election official proof of residential address in the county. This “proof of address” may consist of a current and valid photo ID or any Help America Vote Act (HAVA) document showing the name and current address of the applicant.
Additionally, voters have the option to personally deliver completed absentee ballots to any one-stop early voting site between October 19 and November 4. Those who choose this method can show up at any of the early voting locations and submit their ballot at the check-in table for logging and receipt.
It's important to note that not all registered voters in Carteret County are eligible to vote in municipal elections. To determine if you are eligible to vote in a municipal election, we encourage citizens to look up their voter record. By looking up their voter record, citizens can verify whether their residence falls within a municipal boundary.
For voters encountering challenges entering the voting locations due to age, physical disability or physical barriers, curbside voting will be available at early voting sites and on Election Day.
As the election day approaches, please make note of Tuesday, November 7, 2023, when polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters intending to cast their ballots on Election Day should visit their designated polling sites. For those uncertain about their assigned Election Day polling location, we encourage utilizing the polling place search tool.
For more information on the 2023 Carteret County Municipal Elections, visit the board of elections website at https://www.carteretcountync.gov/434/Board-of-Elections or contact the Carteret County Board of Elections Office at (252) 728-8460.
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