The State Board of Elections is reminding voters that election officials are the best source for accurate, reliable, and timely information about the voting process.
Topics Related to Required by law
North Carolina State Board of Elections officials will host an in-person and remote media availability at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 15, to discuss the start of the in-person early voting period for the 2026 general election.
The event, for credentialed members of the media only, will be held at the State Board office on the third floor of the Dobbs Building, located at 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.
State Board Executive Director Sam Hayes will offer brief remarks, then take questions from members of the media.
Election workers write on ballots for different reasons as required by law. This in no way affects whether your ballot will be counted.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections will send letters this week to 1,392 registered voters identified as potential non-U.S. citizens through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database.
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.
Notice of Meeting
The 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.
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.
The State Board of Elections will hold an in-person meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Note: This reconvened State Board meeting has a new Webex link for the public.