Buncombe County, North Carolina
Your guide to voting in Buncombe County, North Carolina: registration, sample ballots, ID requirements and where to get local help. Home to about 279,000 people, Buncombe County ranks 7th in population among North Carolina's 100 counties. In North Carolina, each county board of elections handles registration, early voting sites and absentee ballots.
Next Election
March 7, 2028
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register at least 25 days before an election; same-day registration is available during early voting only, not on Election Day.
Why Voting Matters
In Buncombe County, the people who show up to vote decide who represents everyone. The next election for Buncombe County voters is North Carolina's statewide primary on March 7, 2028; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. Many Buncombe County jobs are in health care and restaurants and hospitality, so decisions about health care costs and tourism and small businesses hit close to home.
Buncombe County voters cast about 160,000 ballots for president in 2024, about the same as the 162,000 cast in 2020. Compared with the county's roughly 231,000 adult residents, that works out to about 69%, above the statewide rate of about 65%.
That means roughly 71,500 adult residents did not cast a presidential ballot. Some are not eligible, but many are, and that is a lot of untapped power. If just one in 20 of them voted, Buncombe County would add about 3,580 voices, more than enough to decide a close local race.
Across about 656 square miles, Buncombe County averages around 425 people per square mile, mixing neighborhoods, towns and open land. The county is home to about 2.5% of North Carolina's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Buncombe County include 28655, 28701, 28704, 28709, 28711, 28714, 28715 and 28716, plus 27 more. Check that your registration is current, look up your sample ballot, and make a plan to vote. Then ask a friend or family member in Buncombe County to do the same.
Voter Assistance Resources
Local election help in Buncombe County: In North Carolina, each county board of elections handles registration, early voting sites and absentee ballots. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Buncombe County board of elections.
Direct link, NC State Board of Elections county board page:
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/BOEInfo/?CountyId=11
Statewide directory, North Carolina State Board of Elections county board information:
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/BOEInfo/
See your sample ballot. North Carolina State Board of Elections sample ballot page:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/sample-ballot
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
Free, nonpartisan help is available before and on every Election Day: call or text the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Buncombe County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Disability Rights North Carolina, North Carolina's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (877) 235-4210. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our North Carolina voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Buncombe County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
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