ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — You’ve cast your ballot in North Carolina’s general election. Now, how do you know it was accepted?

The North Carolina State Board of Elections offers online tools that let voters check their ballot status. Which one you use depends on whether you voted early, by mail or on Election Day.

Here’s how to check.

If you voted early

If you voted during North Carolina’s early voting period, you can check your ballot status through the state’s Voter Search tool.

The process takes just a few steps:

  • Go to the Voter Search website.
  • Enter your first and last name
  • Enter your year of birth
  • Enter your county
  • Enter your voter status
  • Click “Search.”

Find your name in the results and click on it.

Scroll down to the section labeled “Your Ballot.”

You’ll see information about the election, the county where you voted, your voting method, the date you voted and the status of your ballot.

For example, a Buncombe County voter who cast an early ballot Oct. 29 and had it accepted would see:

  • Election: 11/03/2026
  • County: BUNCOMBE
  • Voting Method: EARLY VOTING
  • Return/Vote Date: 10/29/2026
  • Ballot Status: VALID RETURN
  • Vote Status: ACCEPTED

If your record shows “VALID RETURN” and “ACCEPTED,” election officials have accepted your ballot.

If you voted by mail

North Carolina has another tool specifically for voters who requested absentee-by-mail ballots.

BallotTrax allows voters to follow their ballots from the time they’re printed until they’re received and accepted by election officials.

Voters can also check the status of their absentee ballots through the state’s Voter Search tool.

If your ballot hasn’t been accepted or you’ve been notified of a problem, contact your county board of elections as soon as possible.

If you voted on Election Day

Don’t worry if you voted Tuesday, Nov. 3, and your voting record doesn’t immediately show it.

Unlike early and absentee voting, Election Day participation appears in the “Your Voter History” section of the state’s Voter Search tool.

It can take several weeks for those records to be updated.

That doesn’t mean your vote wasn’t counted. Ballots inserted into tabulators at polling places are counted as part of the election results, even though individual voter history records may take several weeks to update.

What if you cast a provisional ballot?

If you cast a provisional ballot because of a question about your registration or eligibility, you’ll have to wait a little longer to find out whether it was counted.

County election officials review provisional ballots during the canvass process to determine whether they can be counted.

According to the State Board of Elections, provisional ballot status information generally becomes available 10 days after the election.

Voters can find information about checking their ballots on the state’s Provisional Voting page.

Can someone see who you voted for?

No. North Carolina’s voter records can show whether you voted, when you voted and whether you voted early, by mail or on Election Day.

They do not show which candidates you supported or how you voted on ballot questions.

Your choices remain private.

For more information or help with a ballot, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections or contact your county board of elections.