North Carolina Voter Guide 2024: Who's running, how, where, when to vote in NC election
North Carolina held a statewide primary election on March 5.
Many of the primary elections were crowded races with numerous candidates. In any race where no candidate won at least 30% of the vote, a second, or runoff, election could be called between the top two finishers.
There are no runoffs this year for any Democratic primaries.
Who is on the ballot in North Carolina's primary runoff?
Three races – two statewide races and the District 13 Congressional race pitting Kelly Daughtry and Brad Knott vying for the Republican nomination – went to a runoff, and a second primary will be held May 14.
District 13 currently consists mostly of Johnston County and parts of Wake County. Incumbent Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, isn’t seeking reelection after state GOP lawmakers redrew the district to become heavily Republican.
Candidates Daughtry and Knott have been spending big on television advertising, each trying to align with former President Donald Trump and accusing the other of not being conservative enough.
The winner will face Democratic nominee Frank Pierce in the general election for the district. Whoever wins the Republican primary will be the strong favorite to win in November.
The Republican primaries for Lt. Governor and State Auditor will also be decided in the May 14 runoff election.
Lieutenant governor: Hal Weatherman and Jim O'Neill came out on top of the candidate field of 11 Republicans in March voting.
Weatherman served as chief of staff for former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick. O'Neill is the Forsyth County district attorney. He was the Republican nominee for attorney general in 2020 and lost by less than 14,000 votes.
The winner between Weatherman and O’Neill will determine who faces off in November against Democratic nominee Rachel Hunt, a state senator from the Charlotte suburbs who’s the daughter of former Gov. Jim Hunt.
State auditor: Jack Clark won 23.3% of votes with Boliek close behind at 22.2% in the GOP primary. Boliek requested the runoff.
Clark is a certified public accountant and budget policy assistant for the General Assembly. Boliek is an attorney and a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill trustee.
The auditor race between Clark and Boliek will determine who faces off in November against State Auditor Jessica Holmes — a Democrat who Gov. Roy Cooper appointed to the office last year after former Auditor Beth Wood, another Democrat, stepped down amid scandal.
There are also runoffs in local races in Gaston and Orange counties.
When can I vote in North Carolina?
Vote early beginning April 25
In-person early voting for the May 14 statewide Republican second primary election begins Thursday, April 25, and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
Enter your home address here to see the candidates on your ballot and times and locations to cast your vote.
Vote in person on May 14, 2024
The primary runoff election day is May 14, 2024. All registered voters can cast a ballot that day. All polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day, voters must vote in their assigned polling place, and anyone in line at 7:30 p.m., when polls close, will be allowed to cast their ballot.
Enter your address below to see profiles of each of the candidates on your ballot and their answers to questions about the issues of the day. We asked questions on issues ranging from immigration and the border to job creation and inflation, from marijuana to school funding to public safety.
Why do we need your address?
The WRAL Voter Guide is based on your address because your ballot varies by where you live. Enter your address to see the races and candidates you will vote for come primary day.
Based on your address, see and compare the candidates for each office, and read their answers to questions about the issues you care about.
How do I vote in North Carolina?
Republicans and Democrats have to vote in their party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose one or the other.
Voter ID required in North Carolina
No matter when you vote, you will need to show a driver’s license or another approved form of photo ID to vote in North Carolina in 2024.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has published a list of dozens of acceptable forms of ID, including many school and college IDs, military or veterans photo ID or tribal enrollment cards with photo.
Return a ballot by mail
Those who requested and completed a mail-in ballot must have them returned by by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day — May 14 for the North Carolina second primary elections and Nov. 5 for the general election.
Return your completed ballot and a copy of your photo ID — by mail or in person — to your county board of elections, or drop it off on Election Day to your county board of elections.
