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The voter registration deadline for the November municipal elections is next Friday, Oct. 8.

According to the State Board of Elections, there are more than 7.15 million registered voters in North Carolina as of last Saturday.

“Voting is a critical way to make an impact in your city or town, county, state, and country,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board. “If you’re eligible, we hope to see you at the polls this fall.”

To register to vote, you must:

·      Be a U.S. citizen.

·      Live in the county of registration for at least 30 days before the date of the election.

·      Be at least 18 years old by the date of the general election. 16- and 17-year-olds may preregister to vote.

·      17-year-olds may vote in a primary election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election.

·      Not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation, parole, or post-release supervision. There is one exception. If you are serving a felony sentence, you are eligible if the following are true:

·      You are serving an extended term of probation, post-release supervision, or parole;

·      you have outstanding fines, fees, or restitution; and

·      you do not know of another reason that your probation, post-release supervision, or parole was extended.

Eligible individuals have options when registering to vote. They may complete a voter registration application form, which is available here or at the Beaufort County Board of Elections office, and return the form to the county board of elections. Applications can be emailed, faxed, mailed, or returned in person to your board of elections office.

In addition, online voter registration is available through the North Carolina DMV for anyone who has a North Carolina driver’s license or has used other DMV services. The DMV website also allows voters to update their registrations (except name changes). For more information and a link to this service, click here.

If you miss the regular registration deadline, you can register and vote on the same day during the one-stop early voting period. The early voting period for November municipal elections is Oct. 14 – 30.