The following is a primer for reporters and editors about the 2026 general election in North Carolina.
Topics Related to Voter ID information
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.
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.
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.
Note: This reconvened State Board meeting has a new Webex link for the public.
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 an in-person meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at the State Board of Elections offices, located on the third floor of the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.
Notice of Remote Meeting
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.
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.