3 Ways to Vote

There are 3 ways to vote in North Carolina.

1. Absentee by Mail

  • Request a ballot and have it mailed to you. The last day to request a ballot for the primary election is Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Vote in the presence of 2 witnesses who are at least 18 or a Notary.
  • Return the ballot by Election Day (Tuesday, March 3, 2026). The ballot must be received by the board of elections by 7:30 pm on Election Day.

Note: Voters will be asked to provide a copy of their photo ID with their absentee ballot.

Learn more on our Absentee Voting page.

2. In-Person Early Voting

Voters may cast their ballot at any early voting site in their county prior to Election Day. Early voting for the primary election begins on Thursday, February 12 and ends on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Note: Voters will be asked to show a photo ID at the voting site.

Learn more on our Early Voting page.

3. Election Day

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026. On Election Day, the polls are open from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm. Voters must go to their assigned polling place.

Note: Voters will be asked to show a photo ID at their polling place.

Learn more on our Voting in Person page.

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Take Action - Look Up Your Voter Record

Before every election, we recommend you look up your voter record. On your voter record, you can:

  1. Confirm you are registered to vote at your current address.
  2. View your sample ballot which you can print and mark with your choices to take with you to vote.
  3. Find your election day polling place.

Voter ID Requirement

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina. Learn more in this post.

Accessible Voting

Visit the State Board of Elections website to learn about accessible voting options for voters with disabilities such as curbside voting, accessible voting equipment, and voter assistance in the polling place.