By Sharon Main

For the Salisbury Post

Do you plan to vote in the 2024 General Election? The first step is to verify whether or not you are registered to vote in Rowan County. A quick way for you to check is to go to https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/ to access the online voter search tool for North Carolina. If you check the voter search tool and find you are a registered voter no further action is needed. You are ready to vote in the 2024 General Election. Simply bring a valid photo ID with you to the polls and cast your ballot. If you do not have a valid photo ID, one can be obtained for free by visiting the Rowan County Board of Elections office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ID services stop briefly from Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. through Election Day. The service will resume Nov. 6.

If you discover you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration with a new address or name change you can do so by completing a voter registration form.

Requirements to register to vote in the 2024 General Election include:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Live in the county where you are registering and have resided there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
• Must be 18 years old or will be by the date of the general election.
• Cannot be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision or parole.

Voter registration forms can be completed multiple ways:

• In person at the Board of Elections office located at 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd. W., Suite D10, Salisbury, NC (old West End Plaza Mall).
• Online through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) site at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx  or in-person at the DMV office.
• By completing a paper form and mailing or returning it to the Board of Elections, 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd. W., Suite D10, Salisbury, NC 28147.  Paper forms are available at the following locations:
  • English and Spanish versions can be printed off from our website at https://rowancountync.gov/Elections. Select the desired form from the Quick Links area.
  • At all branches of the Rowan County Public Library
  • Public assistance offices. For example: Department of Social Services (DSS), Employment Security Commission, Women Infants and Children (WIC), Division of Services for the Blind or Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• For Military and Overseas Voting please visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/military-and-overseas-voting for information on UOCAVA and FPCA registration and voting processes.

As forms are received, they are processed, and the voter will receive a postcard size verification card that shows the voter’s information including what precinct they will vote at on Election Day. For voters wishing to cast their ballot on Election Day the deadline to register is Oct. 11. 

If you plan to come to Early Voting, you can complete the registration process and vote the same day as long as you meet the eligibility requirements and have both a valid photo ID and HAVA ID. HAVA (Help America Vote Act) IDs are specific documents that are acceptable identification for proof of residence. Some examples are a utility bill, bank statement, property tax statement, college or university roster used in conjunction with school photo ID, paycheck from an employer, government check, public housing lease, etc. For a more complete list of HAVA ID’s contact the Rowan County Board of Elections office. 

Early Voting will begin Thursday, Oct. 17, and will end Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.

Hours of operation are:

• Monday through Friday,  8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

There are five locations open for Early Voting for this election. The sites include:

• Rowan County Board of Elections: 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd., W., Salisbury
• Rowan Public Library- South Branch: 920 Kimball Rd, China Grove
• Rockwell American Legion Building: 8580 US Hwy 52, Rockwell
• Cleveland Town Hall: 302 E. Main St., Cleveland
• Spencer Municipal Building: 460 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer 

Rowan County currently has more than 99,000 registered voters. We encourage all eligible Rowan County citizens to register and cast their ballot. If you have any questions regarding registering to vote, contact our office at rowan.boe@rowancountync.gov or call us at 704-216-8140.

Sharon Main is the Rowan County Board of Elections director.