This news item expired on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
*Beginning March 28, absentee ballots will start going out in the mail to those who have requested one.*
This article has all the information you need to register to vote, vote, and/or participate in the 2022 Primary Election. Scroll down for information on:
- How to register to vote/update your voter information
- Find your Sample Ballot
- Find Early Voting Locations
- The Three Ways to Vote:
- Early Voting
- Absentee Ballot by Mail
- Election Day Voting
- How to be a Paid Poll Worker
- Resource Links and Contact Information at Bottom
Just a reminder, to get election updates and reminders via our mobile text notification system, text BCAlert to 99411, or sign up at buncombecounty.org/codered and select "Election Reminders."
This year’s Primary Election takes place on Tuesday, May 17. In a primary election, voters from each political party choose their candidates at the local, state, and federal levels to be nominated for the ballot in the November general election. Registering to vote will make sure you help decide the elected officials who will create policies that affect your day-to-day life. The deadline to register by mail for the Primary Election is April 22nd. Voter registration forms must be postmarked by April 22 and received in the office by April 27th.
Note: You can register to vote with same-day registration during Early Voting, April 28-May 14. You will need to provide a current document with your name and current address.
If you don’t know if you are registered to vote or if your voter information is correct, you can find out through the North Carolina Board of Elections voter search tool. If you’re already registered, you can find your voting location, election jurisdictions, sample ballots, and other information there.
If you aren’t registered and want to be, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Note: If you will be 18 years of age by the date of the Midterm Election (Nov. 8, 2022), your application may be processed as early as 60 days prior to the date of any Primary Election associated with that Midterm or General Election, even if you will only be 17 years old during the Primary Election. You will then be qualified to vote in the Primary Election for all eligible contests.
- Be a resident of North Carolina, Buncombe County, and your precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election.
- Not be currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, post-release supervision or parole OR you are serving an extended term of probation, post-release supervision, or parole, and have outstanding monetary obligations, and are not aware of other reasons for the extension of your period of supervision. You can find information about that process here.
Meet all the qualifications? Congratulations! Download the online form to register and mail it to:
Buncombe County Election Services
P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
Or stop by and register in person at our office:
59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801
When registering, remember to provide either your North Carolina driver’s license/ID number OR the last four digits of your SSN, otherwise when you vote for the first time you will need to provide one of the following ID’s:
- North Carolina driver’s license.
- Government issued photo ID.
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing your name.
- Current college or university photo ID along with proof of campus residency.
Register to vote or update registration electronically at the NCDMV
The State Board of Elections and N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) launched a service to allow NCDMV customers to apply to register to vote or update existing voter registration information online.
This is a standalone service that does not require the user to complete an NCDMV transaction, such as a license renewal or duplicate, at the same time.
Existing NCDMV customers with a North Carolina driver’s license or NCDMV-issued ID may apply to register to vote or update voter name, address, or political party affiliation through the NCDMV Voter Registration web page.
For more information about registering to vote visit the Buncombe County Election Services website or call (828) 250-4200.
You can vote at any early voting location from April 28-May 14. You can look up your sample ballot, along with your Primary Election day voting location or precinct and other details with the State Board of Elections voter lookup tool.
1. Early Voting
For the Primary Election, Early Voting will run April 28-May 14, and you can use same-day registration during those dates. During the Early Voting period, you can choose to vote at any of the 10 locations below. Click here for Early Voting dates, times, maps, and more.
Locations:
- Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain, 28711
- East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Road, Asheville, 28805
- Enka-Candler Branch Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, 28715
- Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview, 28730
- Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester, 28748
- Reynolds Village, 61 N Merrimon Ave, Suite 105, Woodfin, 28804
- South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, Asheville, 28803
- Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr., Weaverville, 28787
- Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville, 28801
- West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, Asheville, 28806
Check out the Wait Map before you head out for Early Voting.
During scheduled Early Voting times, we offer a tool that tells you in real time, how many voters are in line at each location. The wait map will only be available during Early Voting. Check it out here before you head out the door.
2. Absentee Ballots by Mail
Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning on March 28. The deadline to submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form is May 10 at 5:00 p.m. for the 2022 Primary Election. Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:
- Online - Request an Absentee Ballot at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
- On paper - print the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (not available online currently).
For active-duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad, click here. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4200 or visit buncombecounty.org/vote.
No Printer? You may complete an absentee ballot request form at the Election Services office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801, or call (828) 250-4200 and one will be mailed to you. You may return the request in one of the following ways:
Mail it to:
P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
Hand deliver it to our office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801
Note: The Absentee Ballot Request Form may not be emailed or faxed. Request forms that are hand delivered to the office must be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative.
The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot is Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., however, voters are encouraged to return the ballot as early as possible. You may return it to us in one of the following ways:
- By mail: Absentee ballots may be mailed to P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and received by Friday, May 20.
- At an Early Voting site: Absentee ballots may be returned to an early voting site during the early voting period, but not at a polling location on the day of the Primary Election. Ballots returned at an early voting site must be delivered to the election official at the check-in station.
- In person: Absentee ballots may be returned in person to our office at 59 Woodfin Place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Absentee ballots may be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative.
For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website.
3. Primary Election Day, vote in person on Tuesday, May 17
On May 17, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m. you will have the chance to vote.
Make sure you know where to vote if you are casting a ballot on Election Day. Remember – with Early Voting you can vote at any of our 10 Early Voting sites, but on Election Day you must vote at the polling place in your assigned precinct. If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name at the Voter Search Tool. You can also enter your address at discover.buncombecounty.org and click the voting icon on the left-hand side of the page.
Curbside voting
Another feature Buncombe County Election Services offers, is curbside voting for those who are unable to go inside the precinct due to age or disability. Just pull up to the curbside voting sign, and an election worker will come out and help you. Curbside voting is available during early voting and on primary election day at all voting locations.
Want to be a Poll Worker?
Poll workers are essential to ensuring that elections are a success. With each election, millions of Americans dedicate themselves to sustaining the backbone of democracy, our election process.
Buncombe County Election Services is now recruiting poll workers for Early Voting and Election Day. Early Voting begins on Thursday, April 28 and ends on Saturday, May 14. Learn more about becoming a poll worker here.
Questions?
Email elections@buncombecounty.org
Call (828) 250-4200