Get Out and Vote!

Find helpful information about this year’s election and voting tips! Let your voice be heard and make a difference in society now and in the future

It’s election time and I’m here to remind you to GO VOTE! Early voting has started and election day is a few days away. There are several offices up for election this year the biggest election is the Presidency and Vice Presidency between current Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (Democrat),  and former President and Businessman Donald Trump and JD Vance (Republican). In North Carolina, The Governor’s office is up for election as well and there are several candidates on the ballot: Josh Stein (Democrat), Mark Robinson (Republican), Wayne Turner (Green Party), and Mike Ross (Libertarian). Other offices up for election include U.S. House of Representatives, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, State Senator, State Representative, N.C. Supreme Court Justice, N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Superior Court Judge, District Court Judge, District Attorney, County Commissioner, Clerk of Superior Court, and Register of Deeds.

While I can’t tell you who to vote for, I can share helpful information to help you make your best-informed decision. As for me, I placed my vote early! Early voting runs from October 17, 2024, to November 2, 2024. I enjoy early voting because lines are shorter and the process seems to run smoother without the intense pressure of making sure your ballot is cast in time.

Voting is our right as American citizens to make sure our voice is heard and that we have a choice in who represents our country. With the climate of our country, I think we should sit back and think about who best represents what we want to be known for truly. For many immigrants, America is a place of freedom, equality, and the opportunity to become better than whatever conditions were left behind in their home country. As we vote in this election, consider candidates that will represent us and our future well. While America does have a treacherous history, that doesn’t mean we must continue the division in our country, We, too, have the power to rise beyond our past circumstances.

Other factors to consider are how your vote will impact your family, friends, and neighbors. Voting isn’t all about how many benefits one can personally receive from the elected candidate, but more about how the candidate will impact the majority of those who you know and care about, and those whose rights will be unfairly oppressed. If you haven’t made your way to the polls yet, here is some helpful information to consider before you cast your vote.

Tips for Voting in the 2024 Election:

1. Register: Make sure you’re registered and your registration is updated. Registration can be done online, in person, or by mail.

2. Identification: Bring a copy of your ID.

3. If you or someone you know requested an absentee ballot, it must be returned by November 5th.

4. Research: Do your research and read the campaign pages of those on the ballot in your area.

5. Consider voting against the constitutional amendment, this question will be present on your ballot.

6. Hours: Polling places are open:

   1. On election day, Tuesday, November 5th,  6:30 am - 7:30 pm. Anyone in line at 7:30 at their designated polling place will be able to vote.

   2. Early voting times: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 7:30 pm, Saturday: 8:00 am  - 3:00 pm, and Sunday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

7. Check this website to find your voting place on Election Day: Election Day Voting Location

Early Voting:

8. Vote anywhere in the county you’re registered in. If you wait until election day you’ll have to vote at your designated polling place.

9. Same-day registration is available, you can register and then vote.

10. Early Voting ends November 2nd at 3 pm!

11.  Where to Vote: Use this website to find out where you can vote early: Early Voting Locations

12.  Visit this link to be sure your vote was counted: Voter Search

Voting is a societal responsibility to ensure that we have a voice in who, what, and how our country, state, and county will operate and impact us. If you’re 18 and older, GO VOTE! We all have a voice and it matters!

Sources:

North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2024. Ballotpedia. (n.d.). https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_gubernatorial_election,_2024

Vote “against” The Constitutional Amendment. Democracy NC. (2024, October 16). https://democracync.org/vote-against-constitutional-amendment/

Voters affected by helene. NCSBE. (n.d.). https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election