Voting in the 2026 General Election Begins This Week in NC

On Friday, North Carolina’s 100 county boards of elections will begin sending absentee-by-mail ballots to voters who requested a ballot for this election.

That day, North Carolina will become the first state in the country to send absentee ballots to voters, marking the start of voting in the 2026 midterm general election. Election Day is November 3. For more information, go to Upcoming Election. 

"Election officials across North Carolina will start mailing absentee ballots out later this week and are prepared to serve voters throughout this important election season,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “All registered voters can choose how they wish to cast their ballot: by mail, in person during the 17-day early voting period, or in person on Election Day. We are confident that this process will be as smooth, secure, and seamless as possible for voters."

Please see the following 10 tips about absentee voting in North Carolina:

1. Any registered voter in North Carolina can vote by mail. The easiest way to request an absentee ballot is through the NC Absentee Ballot Portal. Voters also may fill out a North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form and return it to their county board of elections. For more information on absentee voting, see Vote By Mail. Also see Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail.
2. Military and overseas citizen voters can request, receive, and return their ballot electronically through the absentee portal. For more information, see Military and Overseas Voting.
3. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. However, election officials recommend that voters request their ballot sooner to ensure it can be completed, returned, and received by the county board of elections by the return deadline. (For military and overseas citizen voters only, the request deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 2, the day before Election Day.)
4. Absentee voters should carefully read and follow the instructions included with their ballot packages to ensure their ballot is counted. Absentee voters must seal their ballot in the ballot container envelope and have two individuals or a notary witness sign their ballot container envelope attesting that the voter completed the ballot. By-mail voters also will be asked to place a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID in the sleeve on the back of the envelope. The photocopy does not have to be a color copy, but election officials must be able to read it. Absentee voters who are unable to provide a copy of a photo ID should complete the Photo ID Exception Form included with their absentee ballot materials, and place that form in the sleeve on the envelope.
5. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day – Nov. 3. Voters can return their ballot by mail or return it in person to their county board of elections or to any early voting site in their county during the early voting period — Oct. 15-31. For early voting locations, see Early Voting Sites Search. (For military and overseas citizen voters only, the receipt deadline is 7:30 p.m. on Election Day for voters who return their ballot electronically, and 5 p.m. Nov. 12 by mail.)
6. Sample ballots are now available through the State Board’s Voter Search tool. Scroll down to the “Your Sample Ballot” section and click on the link.
7. If you have questions about your absentee ballot, contact your county board of elections.
8. Absentee voters can track their ballot using BallotTrax, which sends alerts notifying the voter where their ballot is in the process.
9. The cost to return an absentee ballot by mail through the U.S. Postal Service has increased to $1.98, or three “Forever” stamps.
10. If you request a ballot by mail but do not return it, you can still vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day. Simply discard your absentee ballot.

2026 General Election Dates and Deadlines 

• Sept. 4: Absentee ballots must be available and distributed to military and overseas voters. For more, see Vote by Mail.
• Oct. 9: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.).* For more, see How to Register.
• Oct. 15: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available. For more, see Vote Early in Person. For early voting sites and schedules, see Early Voting Sites.
• Oct. 20: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*
• Oct. 31: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
• Nov. 3: Election Day. For more, see Vote in Person on Election Day; Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*

*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters

Find other important dates for the election on our web calendar: Voter Dates & Deadlines.