Pasquotank County

Elections

Voter Information

Pasquotank County has permanent and continuous voter registration. Once a person has registered to vote, they cannot be removed permanently for non-voting. If a voter moves from one county into another and registers to vote in their new county of residence, they are required, by law, to cancel their previous registration.

To be eligible to vote, a person must:
Be a citizen of the United States;
Be a resident of North Carolina and Pasquotank County for 30 days prior to an election;
Be 18 years of age by the next general election;
If convicted of a felony, have their citizenship rights restored before registering to vote.

Voter registration must be updated if a voter

Has moved to another address within Pasquotank County since registering to vote;
Has changed their name; or
Desires to change their party affiliation.

Pre-Registration

If you are 16-17 years of age, you may preregister to vote. When you become eligible by age to vote, the county board of elections will automatically process your voter registration application. After you are preregistered, if you move, you must notify the county board of elections where you initially preregistered of your new address. If you move to another county, you must preregister or register to vote in that county. You must be 18 years of age by the next general election, although you may register and vote at age 17 in a primary election, as long as you will be 18 by the date of the general election; however, you may not vote for any referenda until you are 18 years of age.

Deadline for registering to vote

The deadline for registering to vote in an election in North Carolina and Pasquotank County is twenty-five (25) calendar days before the date of an election. Voter Registration Application, if submitted by mail, must be postmarked by the deadline. Any agency and DMV applications that are completed by the deadline are also valid.

Where to register to vote in Pasquotank County

Board of Elections office (Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm)
- 426 McArthur Dr, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 (map)
Public Library
Local High Schools
Department of Motor Vehicles
Public Assistance Agencies

You may also download and print a voter registration application online.

Voter Registration Form (English)
El formulario de inscripción del votante (español)

The application should be mailed to

Pasquotank Board of Elections

PO Box 1797

Elizabeth City, NC 27906-1797

To check your voter registration click online.

Persons may register with any recognized party in the State of North Carolina, or as Unaffiliated. If you do not declare a party on your registration application you will be registered as Unaffiliated.

Primary Elections

A Primary is an election in which candidates are nominated. The nominees of each party are placed on the ballot in the General Election following the primaries. North Carolina holds “closed” primary elections, which means voters registered with a political party may only vote in the party’s primary in which they are registered. Voters registered as ‘Unaffiliated’ may choose to vote in a party primary, provided the political party has opened their primaries to unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters who choose not to vote in a party primary may choose to vote a non-partisan ballot.

General Elections

A General Election is an election in which candidates are elected. Any qualified registered voter is eligible to vote in a General Election and may vote for any candidate of their choice, regardless of political party affiliation. General elections are held every two (2) years in even-numbered years.

Municipal Elections

The City of Elizabeth City Municipal elections are conducted by the Pasquotank County Board of Elections and are held every two (2) years in odd numbered years. The municipal elections held in Elizabeth City are the ‘Non-Partisan with Run-off Method’, requiring a fifty percent-plus-one majority of votes for winning candidates in the initial election. Any qualified registered voter residing within the Elizabeth City limits may vote in a municipal election. Absentee ballots are made available 30 days prior to the municipal election day.

Absentee Voting

Any qualified registered voter may request and receive an absentee ballot by-mail. No excuse is needed.

To receive an absentee ballot by mail, a voter must:

Make a written request for the ballot and include name, address and date of birth. If the ballot is to be mailed to a different address than that which is on record for the voter, the mailing address should be indicated on the request.
Sign the request and mail to the Board of Elections at the following address:

            Pasquotank County Board of Elections
            PO Box 1797
            Elizabeth City, NC 27906-1797

If a person requests an absentee ballot by-mail, indicating the reason as being due to sickness or disability expected to last the remainder of the calendar year, that person’s request will be valid for the entire election cycle for that year.

A near relative, (defined by law as spouse, parent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, grandparent, step-child, step-parent, in-laws or legal guardian), may appear at the Board of Elections office and complete an absentee request on behalf of a voter. The Elections office will mail the voter the appropriate ballot.

Primary, General or County Bond Elections:

Absentee voted ballots, if delivered in person by the voter or near relative, must be received in the Elections Office by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election. If the ballot is returned by mail, the return envelope must be postmarked by the date of the electionand received in the Board of Elections office not later than three (3) days after the election date, by 5:00 p.m., for the ballot to be accepted and counted by the Board of Elections.

Municipal Elections:

Civilian absentee voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.

UOCAVA, (military and overseas citizens), absentee voted ballots, (if the ballot is returned by mail), must be received in the Board of Elections office not later than three (3) days after the election date, by 5:00 p.m., for the ballot to be accepted and counted by the Board of Elections.

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)

UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard), merchant marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their family members, and citizens outside the United States. Click here for more information.

One-Stop No-Excuse Absentee Voting (Early Voting)

One-Stop No-Excuse absentee voting begins 2½ weeks before all elections and ends on the Saturday before every election. Any qualified registered voter is eligible to vote during One-Stop. Any person who has not registered by the deadline, (25 days prior to an election), may register and vote on the same day during the One-Stop period. However, a person may not register and vote on Election Day. Please click here for guidelines on how to register and vote during the One-Stop voting period.

The location for One-Stop voting is in the Board of Elections Office, 426 McArthur Drive. The hours for voting are 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on the Saturday before the election, unless otherwise specified. One-Stop voting ends on the Saturday before every election.

Election Day

Voters must go to their regular precinct polling place to vote on Election Day. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. in every precinct. A voter may find their polling place and it’s location by clicking here.

Voters with questions regarding their respective polling place should call the Election Office at 335-1739.

Voting Equipment

Pasquotank County uses optical scan voting equipment. Handicap accessible voting equipment is available at the Board of Elections office during One-Stop voting and at every polling location on Election Day.

Curbside Voting

Curb-side voting is available at the Board of Elections for One-Stop Voting and all polling place locations on Election Day to any voter who, because of a physical disability, is not able to enter the polling place.

Contact

Linda Page, Director