Full announcement from the NC Center for Voter Education:

RALEIGH - As early voting gets underway this week, voters across North Carolina can learn about the candidates on their ballot by visiting NCVoterGuide.org.

The 2012 N.C. Voter Guide is produced by the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Voter Education and UNC-TV statewide public television. Along with information on voting in North Carolina, the guide includes profiles on candidates spanning the ballot in all 100 counties, from U.S. president and governor, to Congress, the state legislature, courts and county-level offices.

As a new feature this year, voters can enter their address to create a personalized ballot that includes their congressional and legislative races, along with statewide and local contests.

"Our research has found that the top reason why voters don't go to the polls is because they lack information about the candidates on their ballot," said Brent Laurenz, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

"The 2012 N.C. Voter Guide is designed to give voters information about all of the candidates, especially in those races often overshadowed by the presidential contest."

Founded in 1999, the N.C. Center for Voter Education is a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping citizens fully participate in democracy.