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.
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.
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.
The State Board of Elections will hold a remote meeting via Webex at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Any member of the public may observe the meeting online and by phone using the information below.