Editor's Note: Video above features Countdown to the Primary Election Special Part I.Voters in North Carolina will head to the polls for both the primary election in March and then again in November for the general election. The following WXII 12 2024 Election Guide features key dates, offices up for election, voter registration, best times to vote on election day, voter ID requirements, how to find your polling place and sample ballot, early voting, absentee-by-mail voting, military and overseas voting, provisional voting, election security and lots more. ►Follow WXII 12 Election Coverage on our free Very Local App ELECTION DATES The primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. All information below is provided by the North Carolina State Board of ElectionsABOUT THE PRIMARY ELECTION Voters will head to the polls for the primary election on Tuesday, March 5, while choosing which candidates should be the party nominees to appear on the general election ballot in November, including the presidential preference primary. WHO CAN VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION?Voters affiliated with any political party may only vote for the candidates for their party. Unaffiliated voters may choose to vote on any one political party’s ballot or a nonpartisan ballot. 2024 OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION Here’s a look at the offices that are up for election in 2024 and include the following: U.S. President U.S. House of Representatives Governor 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 Register of Deeds In the primary election, there will also be one Democratic and one Republican contest for the North Carolina appellate courts. Visit the Judicial Voter information site for more on the courts and candidates. ► For parts Two and Three of the Primary Election Special visit here.Several counties in North Carolina will also have elections for boards of commissioners and boards of education. There are also several elections for mayors and seats on municipal governing boards.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.HOW PRIMARY WINNERS ARE DETERMINED Candidates who win in each contest on their party’s ballot will become their party’s nominees. The nominee will then appear on the ballot in the general election contest.►Find out more about how winners are determined here SECOND PRIMARYIf no candidate reaches the vote percentage necessary to become the nominee in a contest on the ballot, a runner-up can request a second primary to be held on May 14, 2024, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. IMPORTANT DATES Save the date! Here's a list of important dates to know about for both the primary election and the general election with information provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Feb. 9, 2024: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.) Feb. 15, 2024: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available. Feb. 27, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.) March 2, 2024: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.) March 5, 2024: Primary Election Day March 5, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.) March 14, 2024: Deadline to show an acceptable Photo ID for the Primary Election March 15, 2024: County Canvas for Primary Election May 14, 2024: Second Primary Election (Reserved) Sep. 6, 2024: Absentee ballots begin mailing out for the General Election Oct. 11, 2024: Voter registration deadline for the General Election Oct. 17, 2024: In-person early voting period for the General Election Oct. 29, 2024: Absentee ballot request deadline for the General Election Nov. 5, 2024: General Election Nov. 5, 2024: Absentee ballot return deadline for the General Election Nov. 14, 2024: Deadline to show acceptable Photo ID for the General Election Nov. 15, 2024: County canvass for the General Election ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?Unsure if you are registered? Find out if you are registered to vote by entering your information into the voter search tool. ► Find out more about voter registration deadlines►Check here for quick information and answers to questions about voter registration UPDATE VOTER REGISTRATION Do you need to change or update your voter registration? You can do that right, here. WHEN WILL POLLS OPEN ON ELECTION DAY?On Election Days, registered voters in North Carolina may vote at their assigned polling place. Polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day for both the primary and general elections.Any voter in line at their assigned polling place at 7:30 p.m. will be able to vote.The busiest times tend to be early in the morning and just before the polls close.Avoid longer lines by voting at off-peak times.FIND YOUR POLLING PLACEFind your polling place by entering your information into the voter search, or search by using your address with the Election Day polling place search lookup. CURBSIDE VOTING Curbside voting is available for those who are eligible. A voter can cast a ballot while in a car outside the polling location. The NCSBE said, some sites also provide a walk-up area for curbside voting in addition to the drive-up area.It's offered at each Election Day polling place and one-stop early voting sites. Curbside voters must also sign an affidavit affirming that they are unable to enter the voting place to cast their ballot.►Find out more about Curbside Voting here.SAMPLE BALLOT View your personal sample ballot before you head to the polls to vote. You’ll need to enter your first and last name to locate your voter record and then scroll down to the “Your Sample Ballot” section.► Find your sample ballotVOTING EQUIPMENT Want to know which voting equipment will be at your polling place? Check out the interactive map and table by county. VOTING RECORDHow did you vote in the last election? Check here to see your Voting record with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. EARLY VOTINGVoters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county during the early voting period. Voters can also register to vote and also, vote at the same time during early voting. Find out more about same-day registration. PRIMARY ELECTION EARLY VOTING In-person early voting for the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election begins Thursday, Feb. 15, and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.►Find an Early Voting Site here►Check Early Voting Site Hours here ABSENTEE-BY-MAIL VOTING Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot where absentee voting is permitted. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form.►Find out how to request an absentee ballot request formMILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTINGMilitary and overseas voters may register and vote through the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) or the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB).►Find out here about military and overseas voting. VOTE IN HONOR OF A VETERAN Any voter can honor a veteran on any Election Day by requesting a pin as part of the Vote in Honor of a Veteran Program by the state. Pins are provided for free by the State Board of Elections. Each pin can be personalized with the name of the veteran a voter wishes to honor. The program pays tribute to those who've served the country in the Armed Forces. ►Find out more about the program and how to apply for a pin. PROVISIONAL VOTINGA voter receives a provisional ballot when questions arise about:The voter’s qualification to voteThe voter’s eligibility to vote in a given electionThe voter’s eligibility to vote a specific ballot styleElection officials hold provisional ballots aside as they conduct research about the voter’s eligibility. Based on the research, county board of elections members make final determinations about voter eligibility. Election results are not finalized until all provisional ballots that are eligible are counted.►Find out more about provisional voting.►Check the status of a provisional ballot you cast here. VOTER ID REQUIREMENTVoters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Most voters will show their driver’s license to vote but there are several other acceptable photo IDs. GET A FREE PHOTO ID►If you do not have a photo ID, learn how to get one for free.►Voters can also get a free ID card from their county board of elections or at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV).ACCEPTABLE PHOTO IDs FOR VOTINGAny of the following that is unexpired or expired for one year or less:North Carolina driver’s licenseState ID from the NCDMV (also called “non-operator ID”)Driver’s license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport cardNorth Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (see Get a Free Voter Photo ID).College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. governmentTribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the state or federal governmentID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.)ID EXCEPTIONS If any voter is unable to show photo ID when voting (whether in person or by mail), they may fill out an ID Exception Form and vote their ballot. VOTER ID EXPLAINEDFind out more about voter ID and resources.WHAT TO EXPECT ON ELECTION DAYElection workers will check to see if the picture on the ID reasonably resembles the voter. The address on the photo ID does not have to match the voter registration records, according to the NCSBE.VOTER INTIMIDATION Intimidating any voter is a crime, according to the NCSBE. If at any time a voter feels harassed or intimidated at a polling place, the voter should notify an election official immediately.►Find out more about voter intimidationELECTION SECURITY ►Find out how North Carolina's elections are secured by visiting Election Security. HOW YOU CAN HELP SAFEGUARD NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTIONS Carefully review your selections on your ballot before casting it. Remember, once you put your ballot in the tabulator it cannot be retrieved, so it is important to make sure you have selected each desired ballot item.If you encounter any issues when voting, immediately report the issue to a precinct official at the polling place.Advocate for additional state or federal funding for cybersecurity improvements and new voting systems.Seek information about elections from trusted sources, such as the State Board and county boards of elections. Be mindful that information about elections that you find and share on social media may not be accurate. PHONE USAGE AT POLLSIt’s illegal in North Carolina to take photos of or videotape voted ballots.►Find out more about phone usage at the polls.HOW TO GET ELECTION RESULTSYou can get the latest election results by downloading the WXII 12 App.►Check back on election night for updates about how to get results. HOW TO GET INVOLVED You can get involved in the Election process by serving as an election official. There are many other ways to also get involved and help serve your community. ►Find out more about how to get involved in elections. WXII 12 News is committed to providing fair and balanced coverage of the 2024 elections in North Carolina. Stay up-to-date with the latest on local, state and national political headlines by clicking here.