Protect Our Vote NC is a campaign aimed at ensuring that Black and Brown voters, and voters in rural areas, are protected and informed during elections.
The campaign is housed within Forward Justice and we're proud to work collaboratively with statewide movement partners in the fight to protect voters.
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.
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.
The Legal Fight
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.
Questions About Voting?
We're running two direct, nonpartisan voter protection hotlines to combat racist voter intimidation and ensure justice involved voters have access to the information and resources they need.
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 (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 (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
Register to Vote!
2024 NC Statewide Primary Dates and Deadlines
February 9, 2024 – Voter Registration Deadline (by 5 PM)
February 15, 2024 – One-stop, in-person early voting period begins
February 27, 2024 – Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (by 5 PM)
March 2, 2024 – One-stop, in-person early voting period ends at 3 p.m.
March 5, 2024 – Primary Election Day and Civilian Absentee Ballot Return Deadline.
March 14, 2024 – Deadline to Show Acceptable Photo ID
Resources
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.