State desk
Ranks 14th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where North Carolina stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 19 North Carolina outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · North Carolina in red. Free to cite with attribution.
A permit is required; sheriffs must issue a concealed-handgun permit to qualified applicants meeting objective criteria.
North Carolina is 1 of 15 states with this rule
29 · Constitutional (Permitless) Carry6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
North Carolina taxes individual income at a single flat rate of 3.99 percent, ranking 32 of 41 among the states that tax income. Fifteen states use a single-rate structure.
North Carolina is 1 of 15 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only26 · Graduated Brackets
North Carolina charges 41.25 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 10 of 50, which is among the highest in the country. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 59.65 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 41.25 cents.
North Carolina is 1 of 17 states with this rule
16 · Near the Middle17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
North Carolina is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work by statute since 1947.
North Carolina is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
State minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25.
North Carolina is 1 of 12 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters must show an accepted photo ID; without one, a provisional ballot counts only if they verify identity within days.
North Carolina is 1 of 10 states with this rule
14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Opportunity Scholarship voucher removed its income cap in 2023, opening eligibility to all families.
North Carolina is 1 of 17 states with this rule
16 · Limited Program17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists North Carolina among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages.
North Carolina is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without providing a reason.
North Carolina is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
North Carolina's unemployment rate was 3.4% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, down 0.1 percentage points from 3.5% in August. It ranks 14th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), up from 18th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 3.9%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
North Carolina is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court