Your guide to voting in North Carolina’s 2026 general election
Before you head to the polls, here’s what you need to know about registering to vote, important deadlines, absentee and early voting, and more.
With North Carolina’s March primary election in the rearview, attention has shifted to the statewide general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Polls will be open on Election Day from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Before you head to your polling place, here are some things you need to know.
Am I registered?
North Carolina residents 18 and older can check their voter registration status by visiting the state Board of Elections’ online voter portal.
The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 9, although individuals may still register at an early in-person voting site in their county the same day they cast their ballot. Same-day registration is not available for voters on Election Day.
You can register online, by mail, or in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. When registering in person, be sure to bring proof-of-residency documents that list your name and address, which can be a driver’s license, utility bill, or paycheck.
What’s on my ballot?
Items on the ballot include elections for one U.S. Senate seat, all 14 North Carolina U.S. House of Representatives seats, and all 120 North Carolina state House of Representatives seats. One statewide referendum is on the ballot on approving a constitutional amendment that would require photographic identification to vote for all voters in the state, not just those voting in person.
To see a sample ballot from your city or township before you head to the polls, visit the state Board of Elections’ online voter portal.
Can I vote by mail?
Any registered voter in North Carolina who can’t or doesn’t want to vote in person on Election Day can request an absentee ballot.
To have an absentee ballot mailed to you, you can submit an application online, by mail or in person at your local county board of elections office. You’re required to fill out your ballot in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses. After you have filled out the ballot, your witnesses or notary public must sign the envelope. You can return it by mail or hand deliver it to your county board of elections office or at an early in-person voting site.
Your county board of elections must receive your completed absentee ballot by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day for your vote to be counted. If you vote using a mail-in absentee ballot and want to make sure it was received, you can track it online.
How do I vote early?
In-person early voting in the general election starts Oct. 15 and ends Oct. 31.
Casting your ballot during the early-voting period is similar to voting in person on Election Day: You’ll be checked in by a poll worker (you’ll need to bring a valid photo ID or fill out an ID exemption form) and given a ballot; once you’ve filled it out, you’ll insert it into a tabulator machine. Unlike on Election Day, when registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place, you can vote at any early-voting site in your county. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections website, the state is currently working to compile a list of early-voting sites, which will be available online at a later date.
