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First Vote is back! Students, cast your vote in the 2024 elections

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Students at Raleigh Charter High School participate in First Vote NC in 2016. Liz Bell/EdNC

First Vote NC is back for the 2024 presidential election, with voting Oct. 17-Nov. 5, 2024! 

First Vote NC is EdNC’s award-winning, online, simulated election experience for North Carolina students. 

In previous years, educators have used First Vote NC to lead high school students through simulations in the 2016 presidential, 2017 municipal, 2018 midterm, 2019 municipal, and 2020 presidential elections.

In 2024, First Vote NC is available to all North Carolina K-12 students.

What’s new in 2024

We invite all students regardless of your education setting — homeschools, private schools, charter schools, and local public schools — to participate in First Vote NC.

And we hope civic organizations, churches, and other places that support students will encourage students to participate.

We encourage younger participants in First Vote NC to consult a parent, caregiver, teacher, faith leader, civic leader, or other grown up if they need help casting their vote.

No sign-up is needed.

Online ballot

First Vote NC’s web-based ballot for the 2024 general election looks similar to the one voters will receive at the polls.

 The ballot includes the presidential race and all statewide races in North Carolina:

  • President and Vice President of the United States
  • NC Governor
  • NC Lieutenant Governor
  • NC Secretary of State
  • NC Auditor
  • NC Treasurer
  • NC Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • NC Attorney General
  • NC Commissioner of Agriculture
  • NC Commissioner of Labor
  • NC Commissioner of Insurance
  • NC Supreme Court Chief Justice
  • NC Court of Appeals Judge

EdNC resources on voting

How voting works

The ballot will be live Oct. 17-Nov. 5, 2024. 

Click on the VOTE icon in the upper right corner of the First Vote NC homepage.

Voters may use laptops, desktop computers, phones, or tablets to cast their ballot.

The voting experience will be enhanced by an optional exit poll and receipt of a virtual sticker. After submitting the ballot, an “I First Voted!” sticker will appear on the student’s screen.

We encourage students to have a photo taken of themselves holding up the sticker on their device and post it on social media tagging @EducationNC.

Results will be available on the First Vote NC and EdNC websites after the election so students can see how their vote compares to the general election results.

First Vote NC aims to demystify the voting process and prepare students to graduate civic ready.

The First Vote NC platform was recognized nationally in fall 2018 when it received an American Civic Collaboration Award (known as the Civvys). 

Visit First Vote NC to learn more.

If you have questions about First Vote NC, please contact Nancy Rose at firstvotenc@ednc.org.