Important Information about Voter Registration and Voting
To the Duke University and Duke Health Community,
Among Duke’s highest missions is to engage with and contribute to our community, state, and nation. In that spirit, we are writing today to encourage you to join your colleagues, classmates, and friends in voting in the upcoming elections. Duke is committed to making it easier than ever for you to participate, and you have a range of options for casting your ballot.
While early voting won’t begin until October 15, the deadline to register in North Carolina is this Friday, October 9. Visit Duke Votes at vote.duke.edu to learn how to submit a registration application, check your current status, and vote by mail or in person. You can also find resources for voting in your home state.
From October 15-31, anyone eligible to vote in Durham County can use the early voting site that will be set up at the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center, 2080 Duke University Road. The polls will be open from 8 a.m. through 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Early voting will close at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. The Karsh Center is a short walk from West Campus, and ample free parking is available. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place to protect all voters and poll workers. Note that during North Carolina’s early voting period, you can visit any polling place in the county where you are registered.
You can—of course—still cast your vote the old-fashioned way, in-person on election day. To do so, you will need to find your polling place here. The North Carolina Board of Elections anticipates that lines may be long, although they will also have robust protections in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In order to allow Duke employees flexibility in casting their vote, Duke University and Duke Health will observe a no-meeting day (except for routine huddles in the clinical environment and other necessary operational activities) on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Classes will continue, though faculty always have the flexibility to make alternate arrangements. Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible with scheduling to enable staff members who are unable to vote outside normal work hours to do so before, during or after their assigned shifts.
We are proud of the many ways that the Duke community provides real leadership in our nation. Thank you for making your voices heard and participating in our vibrant democracy.
Sincerely,
Vincent E. Price
President
A. Eugene Washington
Chancellor for Health Affairs
President and CEO, Duke University Health System