★ Easiest in North Carolina
Option 1 of 3
Vote early, in person
- When
- Oct 15 – Oct 31
17 days · weekends included
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One-stop early voting. 2026: Oct 15 through Oct 31, 3pm.
North Carolina
You have three ways to cast a ballot. Here's the easiest one for you.
Option 2 of 3
Vote by mail
- When
- Request by Oct 28
- Return deadline
- Must arrive by Election Day
No excuse required
Return by mail or at any drop box, vote center, or county office
No postmark exception (SB 747).
Option 3 of 3
Vote on Election Day
- When
- Tue, Nov 3
Polls open on Election Day
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── Pick your voting day
When will you vote?
Pick a date below. We'll show you what to expect.
October 2026
Election DayEarly voting windowMail ballot deadline
── Build your voting plan
Save all your important voting dates to your calendar with one click.
Includes 3 events: early voting, mail ballot deadline, and Election Day. Adjust later in your calendar app.
Generated locally in your browser. Nothing sent anywhere.
── Take it with you
Make a card you can share or print.
A pocket-sized North Carolina voting plan you can download to your phone, share with a friend, or print on a 4×6 card.
Make my plan card── Your 2026 federal races
What's on your federal ballot
U.S. Senate: Open seat. Senator Thom Tillis announced they are not seeking reelection.
Senator Tillis announced he is not seeking reelection. The seat is open.
For specific candidates and updates, visit your state's official election office (opens in new tab).
U.S. House: All 14 of North Carolina's House seats are on the ballot.
North Carolina redrew its congressional district map for 2026, so your district may have changed. Verify your new district at your state's election office.
For specific candidates, visit your state's official election office (opens in new tab).
Last updated: May 3, 2026. Race information changes as candidates file and primaries finalize. Always verify with your state's election office for the most current information.
── What to bring
North Carolina requires photo ID.
Reasonable impediment declaration available.
Bring one of these
- Driver's license or state-issued non-driver ID
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Military or veteran ID
- Tribal enrollment card
- Concealed carry permit (in some states)
Lists vary by state. North Carolina's full accepted-ID list is on its election authority site.
No ID? You can still vote. Sign an affidavit/declaration form at the polling site and your ballot still counts. Don't let anyone turn you away.
── Registration
Same-day registration available during early voting.
Not registered yet? Register at vote.gov (opens in new tab). It's the federal government's portal and routes you to North Carolina's election authority.
Trouble at the polls?
Long lines, broken machines, anyone challenging your right to vote. Call. Lawyers answer in seconds.
Sources
- North Carolina election authority via vote.gov (opens in new tab)
- In-repo data file
data/states.ts· last reviewed 2026-04-30