Deadline arrives to register for North Carolina primary-day vote

RALEIGH — North Carolina residents wanting to vote in next month’s primary elections will soon see their options narrow on how to cast a ballot and where.

Friday is the deadline to register to vote if someone wants to either vote in person on the actual March 3 primary day or cast a traditional mail-in absentee ballot.

Friday is also the last day that all current registrants can change their partisan affiliation, the State Board of Elections said. The affiliation limits the primary in which they can vote.

There are still registration opportunities after Friday. People can simultaneously register to vote and cast a ballot at an early in-person voting site in the county where they live. Such early voting is offered from Feb. 13 to Feb. 29.

Voters aren’t required during the primary election to show a photo identification to cast a ballot. A federal judge blocked enforcement of the voter ID mandate while its constitutionality is being challenged.