📋 Archive Notice: This page covers the 2025 Charlotte municipal election and is no longer updated. For current coverage, visit our 2026 Election page or the City Council hub.
What Charlotte Voters Need To Know For Tuesday's Primary
What to Know Before You Vote on Tuesday
Tuesday, September 9, is Primary Day in Charlotte. Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Any voter in line by 7:30 p.m. can vote. Confirm your site with the state's Election Day Polling Place Search. ncsbe.govvt.ncsbe.gov
Charlotte is the only municipality in Mecklenburg County holding a September primary this year. Early voting ends today, Saturday, September 6, at 3 p.m. The state's September calendar and Mecklenburg's election page list the official dates. Upcoming Election and Mecklenburg Elections. ncsbe.govvote.mecknc.gov
Check Registration and See Your Sample Ballot
Use Voter Search to confirm your registration, precinct, and "Your Sample Ballot." Reviewing ahead of time speeds your visit. The state's Sample Ballot overview explains where to find it. vt.ncsbe.govncsbe.gov
Missed the regular registration deadline for the primary? Registration during early voting is allowed with acceptable proof of residence. It is not offered on Election Day. See Register in Person During Early Voting. ncsbe.gov
What to Bring: Photo ID
North Carolina asks voters to present an acceptable photo ID at check-in. Valid types include a North Carolina driver's license and other approved IDs. If you do not have one, you may get a free voter photo ID from the county board. Details: Voter ID. ncsbe.gov
If you cannot present ID, you may complete an ID Exception Form and vote a provisional ballot, then follow up as directed. Guidance appears on the Voter ID page. ncsbe.gov
Early Voting: Final Hours
Early voting for the September municipal elections runs through 3 p.m. today, Saturday, September 6. During early voting, any Mecklenburg voter may vote at any county site and eligible individuals may register and vote in one visit. See the statewide schedule and site list: Early Voting Site List — September 2025 (PDF) and Vote Early in Person. ncsbe.gov+1
Mecklenburg confirms the primary timeline, absentee deadlines, and Tuesday hours here: Mecklenburg Elections: Upcoming Elections. vote.mecknc.gov
Absentee By-Mail: If You Already Have a Ballot
If you requested a by-mail ballot, return it so that it arrives at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Rules and methods are on Vote By Mail. County deadlines appear on Mecklenburg Elections: Upcoming Elections. You can track status with BallotTrax. ncsbe.govvote.mecknc.gov
Unaffiliated Voters and Party Ballots
Unaffiliated voters may choose either party's ballot in a partisan primary. This year, the only Republican city primary in Charlotte is District 6. Verify exactly what appears for your address by pulling your sample ballot in Voter Search. vt.ncsbe.gov
Accessibility, Assistance, and Curbside Voting
Every voting site offers curbside voting for voters who cannot enter the voting place due to age or disability. Learn how it works at Curbside Voting. Assistance rules come from state law, G.S. 163-166.8 (PDF), and the State Board's Accessible Voting Sites page. ncsbe.gov+1North Carolina General Assembly
Key Dates After Tuesday
If a second primary is required for any contest, the State Board lists October voting timelines on Upcoming Election. Early voting for November municipal elections runs from October 16 through November 1, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 4. Mecklenburg's general schedule and deadlines are posted on Mecklenburg Elections: Upcoming Elections. ncsbe.govvote.mecknc.gov
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"What Charlotte Voters Need To Know For Tuesday's Primary" by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)