Empowerment. Equity. Access.
Protect Our Vote NC is a network of partners across North Carolina working to ensure that the voters most vulnerable to disenfranchisement, voter intimidation, and mis/disinformation are protected and informed throughout the election season and voting process. We believe that the dignity, humanity and safety of Black, Brown, poor and rural voters must be respected and protected- and that ALL eligible voters have the right to vote free from intimidation or harassment.
Protect Our Vote NC Coalition Partners Include:
Advance Carolina/NC Black Alliance
Black Voters Matter
Blueprint NC
Democracy North Carolina
Forward Justice
Forward Justice Action Network
NC NAACP
NC Poor People's Campaign
NC Second Chance Alliance
Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW)
There have been sweeping, damaging changes to election laws in our state in recent years.
We are experiencing attacks on voting rights from all sides, with felony disenfranchisement, photo voter ID, and gerrymandered maps being weaponized against North Carolina voters for more than a decade. Our coalition of advocates, attorneys and community members are working to realize the vision of an inclusive, multiracial, multigenerational democracy that works for ALL people, while resisting attempts to restrict access to the ballot.
Questions About Voting?
We're running two direct, nonpartisan voter protection hotlines to combat voter intimidation and ensure justice involved voters have access to the information and resources they need. When you give us a call, our team of attorneys and advocates will be there to assist you.
If you have questions about your voter registration status, voting by mail or in person, or photo voter ID requirements, you can contact the non-partisan North Carolina Election Protection Hotline at
1-888-OUR-VOTE (1-888-687-8683).
You should also contact this hotline if you experience any form of voter intimidation, which includes: being yelled at or harassed; being threatened with a weapon; the presence of white supremacist groups or hate symbols at the polls; having your citizenship questioned because of your ethnicity or name; poll observers interfering with your ability to vote; or aggressive electioneering.
Nonpartisan NC Voter Protection hotline
If you are directly impacted by the criminal justice system and you have questions about your eligibility to vote in North Carolina, or want to report an instance of voter intimidation, please contact us at 1-877-880-VOTE (1-877-880-8683).
In North Carolina, individuals with prior criminal convictions are eligible to vote unless they have been convicted of a felony and have not yet completed their sentence (including probation, post-release supervision or parole).
Second Chance Voter hotline
La Linea de ayuda electoral
La lÃnea de ayuda electoral es una herramienta que hemos venido utilizando durante años y que mantenemos porque sabemos que hay muchas preguntas que surgen antes de salir a votar. El personal de El Pueblo y voluntarios se encargarán de tomar las llamadas y reportar cualquier dificultad.
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)
Register to Vote!
2026 NC Primary Election Dates and Deadlines
February 6th, 2026 - Voter Registration Deadline
February 12th, 2026 – One-stop, in-person early voting period begins
(You can register and vote on the same day)
February 17th, 2026 – Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (by 5 PM)
February 28th, 2026 - One-stop, in-person early voting period ends at 3 PM
March 3rd, 2026 - Primary Election Day
Civilian Absentee Ballot Return Deadline (by 7:30 PM)
Deadline to Provide Acceptable Photo ID
UPCOMING EVENTS
Stay tuned for upcoming events!
Resources
Voting Plan worksheet
Our friends at the Fresh Start Registry created this voting plan to help you think through all the things you need on election day to cast your ballot! Remember, if your voting plan is for NC, you will need to bring your current and valid photo identification to the polls
Don't have a Photo ID?
VoteRiders can help! Their services include helping community members obtain and pay for IDs/driver’s licenses, social security cards, and birth certificates from their birth state.
They can also help set up appointments at the DMV and provide free rides to and from the DMV.
Call or text 866-ID-2-VOTE (866-432-868) to learn more.
The Legal Fight
Since the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, there have been no federal voting rights protections to prevent power hungry elected officials from continuing to chip away at the rights of millions for more than 10 years. The landscape may look bleak, but we have a plan and a path forward to continue our fight to protect NC voters.
Forward Justice is lead counsel in the only remaining litigation in North Carolina challenging the discriminatory Photo Voter ID law (SB824), as well as the only remaining litigation challenging the Constitutional amendment requiring photo voter ID.
As these cases make their way through the courts, we're hosting a voter protection clearinghouse and strategy center dedicated to ensuring the right to vote is protected for our most vulnerable populations.
After closing arguments in the case, post-trial findings of fact and conclusions of law must be submitted to the court 21 days after the close of trial. Judge Biggs will rule sometime after receipt of those filings. As we await a ruling, our team will be hosting the Protect Our Vote NC tour with stops across the state to inform, support and engage voters.