Wake County’s 15 early voting locations open today and N.C. State Students for Barack Obama will hold a rally at noon in the Brickyard.

Clay Pittman, a freshman in political science and intern with Students for Obama, said the event is intended to promote early voting among Obama supporters.

“The purpose is to let the student body know how important getting out and voting early is,” Pittman said.

At 12:30 p.m., those who have assembled will walk down Hillsborough Street to the Pullen Arts Center to cast their ballots.

The gathering is open to the public.

Pittman said the group wants to “make a strong showing and help the Obama campaign win N.C.”

The early voting sites, including the Pullen Arts Center on Pullen Road, will be open until Nov. 1, and include some weekend hours.

Pullen Arts Center hours:

Oct. 16 to 18: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 19: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 23 to 25: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 26: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 27 to 31: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other nearby voting sites:

Chavis Community Center

505 Martin Luther King Boulevard

Wake County Board of Elections

337 S. Salisbury Street

Voters can register at these locations on the same visit, and the deadline to register to vote on Election Day was Oct. 10.

The Wake County Board of Elections recommends printing out the registration form located on its Web site and filling it out beforehand, but the paperwork can be completed on site as well.

There are several options available for acceptable identification to register, including:

– Valid driver’s license

– Telephone or mobile phone bill

– Student ID with document from University listing the student’s name and current address

– License to hunt, fish or own a gun

– Passport

– Birth certificate

Voters can update address and name information at these locations. First time voters who did not provide a valid driver’s license number or last four digits of their Social Security Number when registering will need to provide identification, but most voters will not.

Curbside voting is available for those who are physically unable to enter their early voting facility.

A sample ballot is available on the Wake County Board of Election’s Web site, and the Technician’s Voter’s Guide is still available online.

Source: Wake County Board of Elections