REGISTERING TO VOTE:
Friday, Apr. 13th is the deadline for all Voter Registration forms must be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm OR postmarked with that date to allow you to be able to vote in primary or change party affiliation if you wish to vote on the May 8th Election Day.
Voter registration applicants who have met the voter registration deadline should expect to receive their voter card within 1 to 2 weeks. Applicants should contact their county board of elections if they do not receive their voter card within two weeks.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU TO REGISTER:
First-time voters, who at the time of their initial voter registration did not provide their North Carolina driver license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, or who provided a number that could not be validated, are required to show identification when they vote.
This identification does not have to be a photo ID. The requirement for first-time voters to show identification is a requirement of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, a federal law not unique to North Carolina. Acceptable forms of HAVA ID include:
ONE-STOP: REGISTERING AND VOTING ALL AT THE SAME TIME
OR, if you miss that deadline you can then wait until "One-Stop" voting period when you can register and vote early in-person all at the same time at County Commissioners room on the bottom floor of the county office bldg in Wilkesboro. Those dates are shown here:
Friday, Apr. 13th is the deadline for all Voter Registration forms must be turned in to the Board of Elections by 5pm OR postmarked with that date to allow you to be able to vote in primary or change party affiliation if you wish to vote on the May 8th Election Day.
Voter registration applicants who have met the voter registration deadline should expect to receive their voter card within 1 to 2 weeks. Applicants should contact their county board of elections if they do not receive their voter card within two weeks.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU TO REGISTER:
First-time voters, who at the time of their initial voter registration did not provide their North Carolina driver license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, or who provided a number that could not be validated, are required to show identification when they vote.
This identification does not have to be a photo ID. The requirement for first-time voters to show identification is a requirement of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, a federal law not unique to North Carolina. Acceptable forms of HAVA ID include:
- A current and valid photo identification; or
- A copy of one of the following documents that show the name and address of the voter: a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document.
- First-time voters who are required to show HAVA ID will have been notified of this requirement by their county board of elections
ONE-STOP: REGISTERING AND VOTING ALL AT THE SAME TIME
OR, if you miss that deadline you can then wait until "One-Stop" voting period when you can register and vote early in-person all at the same time at County Commissioners room on the bottom floor of the county office bldg in Wilkesboro. Those dates are shown here:
EARLY VOTING:
If you're already registered, you can vote early during the above one-stop voting times as well. It is called "One-Stop" because if does offer the option to register and vote all at the same time if necessary. This year, we have more Democrats on the Board of Elections, and a Democrat Chairman,...so we were able to have more Saturday dates for one-stop early voting AND extended hours in the final days closer to the election. This is hugely convenient to those of us who work.
ABSENTEE VOTING:
If you can't make it to the polls or early voting site, an absentee ballot that you mail in is an option as well. But ANYONE can request and get an absentee ballot for any reason. Absentee voting is available before every election in the form of mail out ballots. You must fill out the NC Absentee Ballot request form to have a ballot mailed to you. The request form can be found HERE.
The last day to request an absentee ballot for the May 8th election is Tuesday, May 1st. The deadline for the Boad of Election to receive your absentee ballot back (MUST be postmarked by election day) is Friday, May 11th at 5:00 pm.
If you're already registered, you can vote early during the above one-stop voting times as well. It is called "One-Stop" because if does offer the option to register and vote all at the same time if necessary. This year, we have more Democrats on the Board of Elections, and a Democrat Chairman,...so we were able to have more Saturday dates for one-stop early voting AND extended hours in the final days closer to the election. This is hugely convenient to those of us who work.
ABSENTEE VOTING:
If you can't make it to the polls or early voting site, an absentee ballot that you mail in is an option as well. But ANYONE can request and get an absentee ballot for any reason. Absentee voting is available before every election in the form of mail out ballots. You must fill out the NC Absentee Ballot request form to have a ballot mailed to you. The request form can be found HERE.
The last day to request an absentee ballot for the May 8th election is Tuesday, May 1st. The deadline for the Boad of Election to receive your absentee ballot back (MUST be postmarked by election day) is Friday, May 11th at 5:00 pm.
WANT TO CHECK VOTER REGISTRATION:
Don't know if you're registered? Unsure if the correct address is on your voter registration? Confused as to your precinct? Need to know which NC House district you're in? All of that can be easily found at the NC State Board of Elections Voter Look Up Tool. It really is a convenient tool, and you can look up other folks too, since it's all public record. So you can check up on the status of your family and friends to make sure they're registered.
WHAT IS ON THE MAY 8th BALLOT?
It's the FINAL ELECTION for Wilkes Board of Election. Vote Brandon Whitaker as he is the only Democrat on the ballot. And you need to vote only for 1, even though you ma vote for two. But with so many Republicans against him, he doesn't have a chance if you share that second vote with any other candidate.
Also on the ballot is the primary for the Democrats vying for Virginia Foxx's seat in November, either DD Adams or Jenny Marshall. Both are strong candidates that know the way to Wilkes County and have made themselves available for forums, meetings, and visits.
All the sample ballots for Wilkes are posted here: https://wilkescounty.net/563/Sample-Ballots
Don't know if you're registered? Unsure if the correct address is on your voter registration? Confused as to your precinct? Need to know which NC House district you're in? All of that can be easily found at the NC State Board of Elections Voter Look Up Tool. It really is a convenient tool, and you can look up other folks too, since it's all public record. So you can check up on the status of your family and friends to make sure they're registered.
WHAT IS ON THE MAY 8th BALLOT?
It's the FINAL ELECTION for Wilkes Board of Election. Vote Brandon Whitaker as he is the only Democrat on the ballot. And you need to vote only for 1, even though you ma vote for two. But with so many Republicans against him, he doesn't have a chance if you share that second vote with any other candidate.
Also on the ballot is the primary for the Democrats vying for Virginia Foxx's seat in November, either DD Adams or Jenny Marshall. Both are strong candidates that know the way to Wilkes County and have made themselves available for forums, meetings, and visits.
All the sample ballots for Wilkes are posted here: https://wilkescounty.net/563/Sample-Ballots
Got a question that we didn't answer here? Just drop us an email: [email protected] and we will find that answer. Or, call the Wilkes Board of Elections at (336) 651-7339 Monday through Friday 8:30am - 5pm.