Step up for Democracy
Qualifications
To qualify to work as a two-year appointed election official, the applicant must be a registered voter who resides in the precinct where they wish to serve. To serve as an election worker on Election Day, you must be a registered voter or be a high school student who is at least 17 years old and in good academic standing (this does not apply to early voting). Check your voter registration status with the Voter Search.
Precinct officials may not be a candidate or a relative of a candidate in the election. They may also not be an elected government official, hold office with a political party, or serve as a manager or treasurer for a candidate or political party. They also may not serve at the same polling place as a spouse, child, spouse of a child, sister, or brother.
Want to Lend a Hand?
Find additional information and have your details forwarded to your county board of elections by filling out and submitting the form for 2025-26.
More Information
Burke County Director of Elections
Kenny Rhyne | 828.764.9010
Download Application
Serve As an Election Worker
Not all heroes wear capes. By becoming an election official, you can be a hero for democracy. These local heroes will protect democracy, learn about the election process, serve their communities, and receive payment for their dedication to the election process. Election officials operate the polls during early voting and on Election Day by providing services such as setting up the voting equipment, checking in voters, processing ballots, assisting voters with special needs, and closing and securing the voting site at the end of the day.
NC’s 2026 Primary Elections
Primary elections determine who will be on the ballot for the November general election. Parties hold primaries to choose the candidate they will sponsor.
North Carolina holds semi-closed primaries. This means your registered party affiliation will determine whether you are eligible to vote in certain primaries. For example, if you are a registered Democrat, you may only vote in the Democratic primary. However, voters registered as unaffiliated may choose to vote in any party’s primary, but not more than one.
The new year marks the start of a new election season. In North Carolina, primary elections will be held on March 3 for statewide and local seats. The general election will follow on November 3.
The number of registered Republicans recently surpassed that of registered Democrats in North Carolina for the first time in history, but the largest share of voters is unaffiliated. A recent analysis of 2023 voter registration data shows that the proportion of unaffiliated registrations has increased, while the proportion of Democratic registrations has decreased over the past decade, while Republican registrations have remained roughly the same.
How do primaries work in North Carolina?
Indivisible Burke NC is a nonpartisan, nonviolent, action-oriented grassroots organization dedicated to building real democracy—of, by, and for all people.
Stay Connected. Stay Involved. Stay Indivisible.
Welcome to Indivisible Burke NC! Our newsletter is your go-to resource for updates on local events, community actions, and ways to make your voice heard here in Burke County.
Download the latest issue below and join us as we work to build a peaceful, inclusive, and thriving democracy—together.
Be informed. Be empowered. Be Indivisible.
ICE in North Carolina
In November, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) moved into Charlotte to deploy Operation Charlotte’s Web. In addition to Charlotte, they appeared in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Gastonia, Winston-Salem, and other areas, including Burke County.
If you are an observer of an attempted ICE raid or arrest, you have the right to film and record federal law enforcement’s actions in public areas and private ones where you are granted access. Keep at least 25 feet from the incident to not directly interfere with their actions, or you could face an obstruction of justice charge.
DemocracyNC recommends following the SALUTE guide when observing ICE for specific details.
Size, or the number of agents and vehicles.
Activity, or what the agents are specifically doing.
Location, including specific addresses or intersections.
Uniform, or what the agents are wearing.
Time, including the date of the incident.
Equipment, including types of vehicles, weapons, or tools.
For more information, check out our Resources section.
Support Indivisible Burke NC
Indivisible Burke NC was formed in early 2025 and is one of thousands of Indivisible groups nationwide working in a nonpartisan way to strengthen our communities and our democracy. We are a grassroots group of volunteers who believe that hope and service are more powerful than hate and politics.
Our Principles:
We firmly hold that 'We the People' means everyone in our communities, and that diversity is our country's greatest strength. We believe that all people deserve rights and opportunities.
Non-violence is our ethos. It is not just a moral stance. It is a strategic, principled, grounded form of constructive action.
We believe in action and service. Democracy is a work in progress that requires us to show up, hold our leaders accountable, and support one another, our rule of law, and our principles.
