Frequently Asked Questions

This is a short list of some of the questions we get asked most often. Many of the answers to these questions may be found either in this section, or on other pages within this web site. If an answer may be found elsewhere, we will try to make sure there is a link in that question to the appropriate web site area.

Although several questions are answered here and on this web site, you may have questions or concerns which this site does not address. Please feel free to contact the Alamance County Board of Elections for these concerns. You may contact them either by visiting, calling, or E-Mailing. Here is the contact information:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Menu:

• How can I tell if I am Eligible to Register and Vote?

• How do I Register to Vote?

• How do I change my Voter Registration Information?

• When is the deadline for Voter Registration?

• How do I Vote?

• What is Absentee Voting? How do I Vote an Absentee Ballot?

• What is Curbside Voting?

• What Precinct am I in?  Where do I go to Vote? What Congressional / Judicial / NC State Legislature District am I in?

• I forgot to change my Voter Registration information when I moved.  What do I do on Election Day?

• Who is the Board of Elections?  Where is the Elections Office located? How can I contact them?

• What are Primaries? What are General Elections?

• Who are my Elected Officials?

• Where can I get Election News and Information?

How can I tell if I am Eligible to Register and Vote?

You may register to vote in Alamance County if:

1. You are a citizen of the United States.   If you have been convicted of a felony, your citizenship rights must have been restored.
2. You are 18 years of age or older.
3. You have been a legal resident of Alamance County for 30 days by the date of the next election.

How do I Register to Vote?

Registration information can be found here.  The NC Voter Registration Form can be found here.

How do I change my Voter Registration Information?

Alamance County has free, permanent, and continuous registration.

You need to Register or Reregister if you:

• have not registered in Alamance County before

• have been previously removed from Alamance County Registration files

You need to transfer or make other changes if you:

• have moved to a different voting precinct since you registered in Alamance County. You must transfer your address in person or by mail prior to the registration deadline (25 days before each election). Failure to transfer by the deadline will delay your voting on election day

• wish to change your party affiliation

• have changed your name

You can also download the NC Voter Registration Form here.

When is the deadline for Voter Registration?

If you must register, change your party, or change your address, you must do so 25 days prior to the election.  Here is a list of registration deadlines for the next two General Elections:

Election Year:	Registration Deadline:	Election Day:
Primary 2008	April 11	May 6
Second Primary 2008	April 11	June 24
General Election 2008	Oct. 10	Nov. 4
Burlington Primary 2009	Sept.11	Oct.  6
General Election 2009	Oct. 9	Nov.  3

How do I Vote?

Information on voting can be found here.

What is Absentee Voting?  How do I Vote an Absentee Ballot?

Information on absentee voting can be found here.

What is Curbside Voting?

If you are unable to enter the voting place due to age or physical disability, you will be allowed to vote either in your vehicle or near the voting place.  Have someone enter the voting place and inform the election officials of your desire to vote in this manner.

What Precinct am I in?   Where do I go to Vote?  What Congressional / Judicial / NC State Legislature District am I in?

We here at the Board of Elections web site will try to make that information available as time and resources allow here at the site.   

Information on Congressional, Judicial, and Legislative Districts can be found at the NC State Voter Search.

Although the NC State Voter Search does provide some information on Precincts, that information is not very detailed.  Currently, information on Precincts is available here.   However, if you have any questions regarding Precincts, or if the information on this site is inadequate for your needs you may contact the Alamance County Board of Elections either by going to their office at 115 S. Maple Street, Graham, NC, or by calling their office at 336-570-6755.

I forgot to change my Voter Registration Information when I moved.  What do I do on Election Day?

If you forgot to change your registration information when you moved within Alamance County, there is a procedure you need to follow that will allow you to vote.  On Election Day, you may to go to your old precinct voting place and fill out a transfer form.  Then, you must take the transfer form to your new precinct or to the Board of Elections Office, where you will be allowed to vote.  However, to avoid this paperwork, you need to change your address by the registration deadline.

Who is the Board of Elections?

The Board of Elections is made up of Three appointed Board Members.  The State Board of Elections appoints these members upon the recommendation of the local Democratic and Republican Party Committees every two years.  The office is staffed with a Director, an Assistant Director, a Voter Registration Coordinator, an Elections Clerk, and part-time clerks as needed.

What are Primaries?  What are General Elections?

In primaries in North Carolina, you vote only in the primary of the party with which you are affiliated.  If you register unaffiliated, you may be allowed to vote in a primary if a party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary.

In the primaries, you NOMINATE candidates and you ELECT candidates in a general election.

Partisan elections are held in even-numbered years and Non-Partisan Municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years.

Presidential Elections are held every four years.   The next Presidential Election will be held in 2008.  U.S. Senators are elected for six year terms.  Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate and State House are elected every two years.  Most other officers are elected every four years, terms are staggered.

Who are my Elected Officials?

Information on current elected officials may be found in this site's Public Officials Directory.

Where can I get Election News and Information?

Generally, election information can be obtained through news outlets, or by contacting the Board of Elections directly.  Many informative sites are available on the Internet, and can be found through a standard search engine by using keywords like election, voting, and current events.  .