North Carolina law allows candidates in close elections to request a recount following the completion of county canvass, which is Friday, March 13. Any necessary ballot recounts from the 2026 primary election would be conducted by county boards of elections in the coming days.This includes any requested recounts in the Senate District 26 contest in Guilford and Rockingham counties. Additional contests may result in recounts as well. All recounts are open to the public and paid for by the county boards of elections.
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Under state law, election officials must release the number of provisional ballots cast by voting method in each county in North Carolina by noon two days after each election. [Provisional voting requirements (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.11(5))]The PDF at the following link shows the number of provisional ballots cast in each county by voting method during the March 3, 2026, Primary Election.
The State Board of Elections will hold an emergency remote meeting beginning at 12:30 p.m. today (Thursday, March 5, 2026).
North Carolina voters experienced one of the smoothest Election Days in recent history, with no major disruptions, equipment problems, or administrative issues reported across the state’s 100 counties. The successful administration of the election reflects months of preparation by county boards of elections and the dedication of thousands of poll workers who served voters with professionalism and integrity.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted unanimously Tuesday to extend voting by one hour – to 8:30 p.m. – at Halifax County’s Littleton precinct (Littleton United Methodist Church, 105 E. South Main St., Littleton).The voting site for this precinct was delayed in opening on Election Day morning due to a synchronization issue with electronic poll books, and backup procedures were not immediately employed.
The State Board of Elections will hold a remote meeting via WebEx at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
State Board of Elections staff on Wednesday, March 4, will randomly select precincts, early voting sites, and absentee-by-mail ballots to be counted by hand in every county as part of a required post-election audit for the 2026 primary elections in North Carolina.
North Carolina elections officials will host an in-person and remote news conference at 11 a.m. on Primary Election Day (Tuesday, March 3) to provide information and answer questions about the 2026 primary election in North Carolina.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, the final opportunity for registered voters to cast a ballot in this election. If you plan to vote on Election Day, please see these tips.
North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes announced today that the agency has selected ReFrame Solutions as the winning vendor to modernize the State Elections Information Management System (SEIMS).