Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions about our office or the services provided, you may find the answers here. Click a question to view the answer. If your answer is not found here, feel free to email this office at alleghany.boe@ncmail.net, call this office at 336-372-4557, or drop by our office at 348 South Main Street, Sparta NC.

If I am registered as Unaffiliated, can I vote in the primary?

Who are my representatives? What are their phone numbers and addresses?

When can I register to vote?

Where do I register to vote?

Who can vote an absentee ballot?

How do I change my political affiliation on my voter record?

How do I know where to vote now that I have moved to a different address?

When is the Board of Elections office open?

How to register and vote during One-Step absentee?

If I am registered as Unaffiliated, can I vote in the primary?
Yes. You may choose which party primary you vote in. You specify a party at the polling place and receive the primary ballot for that party.

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Who are my representatives? What are their phone numbers and addresses?
Click on the following links for your governmental representatives: County, State, US House, and US Senate.

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When can I register to vote?
You may register to vote at any time. To vote in any particular election, your registration must be dated at least 25 days prior to the election.

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Where do I register to vote?
You may come into the Board of Elections office at 348 South Main Street. You can call this office and have a form mailed to you. Follow this link to download a Voter Registration Application/Update Form. You may register at the DMV office when you renew or obtain a driver’s license. You may register at the following public agencies: Social Services, Employment Security Commission, Alleghany County Health Department or the Alleghany County Library.

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Who can vote an absentee ballot?
Any registered voter may obtain and vote an absentee ballot within the time frame as prescribed by law.

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How do I change my political affiliation on my voter record?
Every registered voter is mailed a voter identification card. On the back of this card there's a form to complete to change party affiliation. Fill it out and mail to the Board of Elections Office at P.O. Box 65, Sparta, NC 28675. You must include your signature to validate the change in party.

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How do I know where to vote now that I have moved to a different address?
The voter identification card indicates the correct voting place for your address. When you move, fill out the back of the voter identification card to indicate your new mailing address, the new street address, and any other information requested on the card. Your signature is required to validate the changes. Mail or bring the card to the Board of Elections office. The correct voting place will be determined and a new card will be mailed to you at the new address. For voting purposes, precinct changes require 25 days to take effect. If you move within 25 days of an election, for that election you must vote at your former precinct.

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When is the Board of Elections office open?
Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with a lunch break on most days.

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How to register and vote during One-Step absentee?
If a North Carolina resident has missed the 25 day deadline for voter registration, he/she may register and vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting. To vote during One-Stop Absentee Voting, a resident must fill out a voter registration application and prove residency by providing appropriate identification with current name and current address. The new registrant may vote ONLY at a One-Stop Absentee Voting Site in the county of registration during One-Stop Absentee Voting and not on Election Day. Acceptable forms of identification include: * A North Carolina driver’s license with current address * A utility bill with name and current address (telephone bill, mobile phone bill, electric or gas bill, cable television bill, water or sewage bill) * A document with name and current address from a local, state, or U.S. government agency such as passport; government-issued photo ID; U.S. military ID; license to hunt, fish, own a gun, etc.; property tax bill; automotive registration; certified documentation of naturalization; public housing or Social Service Agency document; check, invoice, or letter from a government agency; birth certificate. * A student photo ID along with a document from the school showing the student’s name and current address * A paycheck or paycheck stub from an employer or a W-2 statement * A bank statement or bank-issued credit card statement Proof of residence does not include any piece of mail addressed to the voter. If you cannot supply acceptable Proof-of-Residence, your registration form cannot be processed until the required information is provided.

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