The Bull City will elect a new mayor and three City Council members this fall.
The primary election is Oct. 5. After that, the top two vote-getters in each race will face off in the general election on Nov. 2. Here are the other dates and details you’ll need to know to vote.
How to vote in-person
Early voting will take place at five locations from Sept. 16 to Oct. 2. At the early voting sites, you can register and vote on the same day. Derek Bowens, Durham County’s director of elections, strongly encourages people to use early voting to avoid long lines on Election Day.
On Oct. 5 and Nov. 2, the polls will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Find your polling place here.
You can also register to vote online or access a voter registration form by visiting the Durham County Board of Elections website. The deadlines to register are Sept. 10 for the primary and Oct. 8 for the general election.
How to vote by mail
If you are already registered to vote in Durham, you can request an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person. Any registered Durham voter can request an absentee ballot, and no special reason is necessary.
You must request a ballot by Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. to vote absentee in the primary. Absentee voting for the primary begins Sept. 5, and you must submit your ballot by 5 p.m. on Oct. 5.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the general election is 5 p.m. on Oct. 26. You can submit that ballot starting Oct. 3 and until 5 p.m. on Nov. 2.
For both the primary and general elections, absentee ballots received after 5 p.m. on Election Day will only be counted if they are postmarked on or before Election Day and received by mail no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election.
You’ll need two witnesses or one notary to fill out your ballot. Absentee ballots can be returned in-person at the Durham County Board of Elections office or at any early voting site.
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The 9th Street Journal will continue to cover the city elections. Check in with us for profiles on the candidates, campaign coverage, and other important updates. You can submit questions and news tips to our staff by emailing jacob.sheridan@duke.edu or julianna.rennie@duke.edu.
