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Tips for LGBTQ+ Voters

I have a new legal name. How do I update my voter registration?

A registered voter can update their voter registration to reflect their new legal name in one of the following ways:

  • By submitting a voter registration form (listing their new legal name in Section 2) by mail, fax, or email to their County Board of Elections office (must be received by 5 PM 25 days before Election Day); or
  • By updating this information in person at any Early Voting site in their county during the 17-day Early Voting period before Election Day.
  • By updating their name on the absentee request form, if requesting an absentee by mail ballot
  • By updating their name on the voter registration card and mailing back to the county board of elections (must be received by 5 PM 25 days before Election Day)
  • By mailing a written statement that is signed by the voter and contains the registrant’s full names (old and new), and the registrant’s current residence address.

A voter who is updating their name will not be asked to present ID or other proof of the name change.

It is important to include an up-to-date residence address.  Name changes will result in a confirmation mailing being sent to the voter’s residence address. If the mailing is returned as undeliverable, the voter could then be removed from voter rolls.

I am a trans person and need to update my voter registration to reflect my gender.

Disclosing gender identity is not required to register to vote in North Carolina – it is optional demographic information that a voter may wish to include.

A voter can change the gender listed in their voter registration in one of the following ways:

  • By submitting a voter registration form (with their gender selected in Section 6) by mail, fax, or email to their County Board of Elections office (must be received by 5 PM 25 days before Election Day); or
  • By updating this information in person at any Early Voting site in their county during the 17-day Early Voting period before Election Day (voter will not be required to show ID).