In-person early voting for the 2026 general election begins Thursday and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 in all North Carolina counties.Statewide, 370 early voting sites will open for general election voters. Early voting is popular in general elections. In the 2024 general election, 74% of voters cast their ballots during the early voting period; in 2022, 53% did.
Press Releases
Notice of MeetingThe State Board of Elections will hold an in-person meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the State Board of Elections offices, located on the third floor of the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.Any member of the public may observe the meeting in-person at the State Board office, or online or by phone using the information below:
Eligible individuals who want to cast their ballot by mail or on Election Day, Nov. 3, must register to vote by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9.Individuals who miss the deadline may register and vote during the early voting period at any early voting site in their county. These “same-day registrants” must attest to their eligibility, including U.S. citizenship, provide proof of where they live, and show an acceptable form of photo ID. The early voting period begins Oct. 15 and ends Oct. 31.
State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes issued the following statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the SAVE database:“The State Board welcomes today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Both the United States Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution are clear: you must be a citizen of the United States to register and vote in our elections.
The State Board of Elections invites members of the public to comment on the State Board’s initial determination that nearly 30 existing administrative rules are still necessary.
Tuesday, September 15 is National Voter Registration Day.
The public comment period opens on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, 2026.
The State Board of Elections will hold an in-person meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
This notice has been updated to include a public link to livestream the event via Webex.
Note: This reconvened State Board meeting has a new Webex link for the public.