Voting in the 2026 election officially begins on Sept. 4, with the initial sending of absentee ballots to voters who requested them. That is followed by in-person early voting (Oct. 15 to Oct. 31), and, of course, Election Day.

Voter Dates and Deadlines

Below are important voter dates and deadlines for the 2026 general election in North Carolina:

• 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.
• 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.
• Nov. 3: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*

During the early voting period, voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. This is different than Election Day, when registered voters must vote at their assigned polling place. During the early voting period, eligible individuals may also register to vote and vote at the same time (see Same-Day Registration below). For an overview of North Carolina’s current elections, visit Upcoming Election.

Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot for the 2026 elections.

Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official NC Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:

1. Online: Option 1 at the NC Absentee Ballot Portal.
2. On paper: 2026 NC Absentee Ballot Request Form (fillable PDF).
   • After completing, submit the form to your county board of elections or in person or by mail via the U.S. Postal Service, DHL, FedEx, or UPS.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is two weeks before Election Day; the deadline differs for military and overseas citizen voters.

Track your absentee-by-mail ballot through the mail: Once you have requested your absentee ballot, you can track its status from printed to accepted by signing up online for status notifications through BallotTrax. BallotTrax will be available 30 days prior to the election.