Nearly half of Buncombe County’s residents have already gone to the polls during the early voting period. If you aren’t among that number, though, you’ve got one last chance to cast your ballot. Election Day is this Tuesday, Nov. 5. The president, NC governor, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Asheville City Council, and lots more are on the ballot and some changes have been made in the wake of Hurricane Helene — here are a few things to know before you vote.
Prepare for the polls
Voter registration is closed, and same-day registration is not available on Election Day. Pro tip: NC’s Voter Search Tool is a quick way to check your voter status and find your polling location + sample ballot.
You’ll be asked to show a photo ID when you vote. If you don’t have identification for voting, you can still visit Election Services Headquarters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive a free photo ID card — no special documents needed. You’ll provide some basic info and get your photo taken, then receive your card.
Cast your vote
If you requested an absentee ballot, there’s still time to turn it in — or you can vote in person on Election Day. Here’s what you need to know.
Turn in an absentee ballot
If you haven’t requested an absentee ballot yet, the emergency resolution passed by the NC State Board of Elections allows you to visit the Buncombe County Board of Elections office during business hours, request an absentee ballot, and complete it at the same time until 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.
The resolution also allows absentee voters or their near relatives (spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild) to hand deliver their completed ballot to any county board of elections in NC by Election Day. So if you’ve been displaced because of Hurricane Helene, you don’t have to deliver your ballot to Buncombe County Election Services.
If you have requested an absentee ballot but your residence isn’t able to receive mail due to mailboxes or roads being impacted by the storm, your local post office will hold your mail for you so you can pick it up. To keep up with the status of absentee ballots, consult BallotTrax.
Once you’ve received and completed your absentee ballot, it needs to be delivered to your chosen NC board of elections office by Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Note: To return your absentee ballot, you’ll have to include a copy of an eligible photo ID. If you cannot, complete the Photo ID Exception form included with your ballot.
Visit the polls on Election Day
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. Due to some polling locations sustaining damage during the storm or needing to be used for disaster relief or emergency services, the Buncombe County Board of Elections approved changes to 17 of 80 polling sites.
Don’t know where yours is? Use the NC State Board of Elections Voter Search tool to find out.
