Election Day is Tuesday, November 3!
Early voting ended Saturday, October 31, at 3 p.m., and the absentee-ballot request deadline for voting by mail has passed.* If you still need to vote, Election Day is your last chance! Head to your assigned polling place on Tuesday, November 3, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to cast your ballot!
* There’s still time to submit your mail-in ballot!
- Absentee ballots must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
- It’s too late to mail in your ballot! It may not arrive in time, and postmark dates don’t matter.
- Absentee ballots cannot be dropped off at Election Day polling places!
- If you still haven’t submitted your ballot, drop it off at your county board of elections office. Can’t do it yourself? Your legal guardian or “near relative” can drop it off for you. If you can’t drop off your ballot due to disability, anyone can do it for you.
- You can also choose to discard your absentee ballot and vote in person on Election Day. (Only vote once! Don’t vote in person if you already voted by mail.)
Who can vote
- Anyone already registered to vote in North Carolina.
- No same-day registration on Election Day.
Where to vote
- You can only vote at your assigned polling place!
- You cannot vote at any other polling place.
When to vote
- Polls open 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM.
- If you’re in line by 7:30 PM, stay in line. You will be able to vote.
What to bring
- Bring a photo ID if you have one. If not, ask for the Photo ID Exception Form.
- Forget your ID? Go back and get it if you can. If not, vote provisionally and cure your ballot later.
How to get help
- You can bring an eligible person to help you vote.
- Election officials at your polling place can help you too.
- Curbside voting is available for some voters.
Questions? Problems?
- Call or text the NC Voter Hotline at 1-866-687-8683.
- Specialized hotlines, including lines in Spanish and other languages, are available.
Key dates
-
Voter Registration Deadline
October 9, 2026 by 5:00 PM
Register to Vote in NCMust be registered by this date to vote on Election Day. (Same-day registration still available during early voting.)
-
Election Day
November 3, 2026
Election DayMust already be registered (no same-day registration). Vote only at your assigned polling place. Polls open 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM. In line by 7:30 PM? You will be able to vote!
How to vote on Election Day in North Carolina
Register
- You must register by the registration deadline, October 9, to vote on Election Day.
- If you’re not registered by October 9, you can’t vote on Election Day (but you can register and vote on the same day during Early Voting).
- Use the NC State Board of Elections Voter Search Tool to see if you are registered.
- If you’re not registered or not registered at your current address, you need to register or re-register: Register to Vote in North Carolina
Review sample ballot
- Use the NC State Board of Elections Voter Search Tool to review your sample ballot.
- Learn about the candidates and offices on your ballot: What’s on the Ballot?
Find assigned polling place
- You can only vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day!
- Find your assigned polling place: NC State Board of Elections: Voter Search Tool
- All polls are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
- If you are in line at your assigned polling place by 7:30 PM, you will be able to vote!
Bring photo ID if you have it
- You can vote with or without a photo ID!
- If you have time, get a free voter ID at your county board of elections office. Get a Free Voter Photo ID
- If you show up to vote but forgot your ID, go back to get it if you have time.
- If can’t get a photo ID before it’s time to vote, you can still vote! Just ask for the Photo ID Exception Form.
- Learn more: Voter ID
Get help and report problems
- Get help to vote if you need it! Report problems at the polls if you have them!
- You can bring someone with you into the voting booth to help you vote!
- You can use curbside voting if you’re eligible!
- You can ask for help at your polling place!
- Have questions? Have problems at the polls? Call or text the NC Election Protection hotline (see below).
Emergency ballot requests
If you expect to be unable to vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3, 2026) due to sickness or disability, you can request an absentee ballot from your county board of elections office after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day (Tuesday, October 27, 2026) until 5 p.m. on the day before Election Day (Monday, November 2, 2026).
If you need help due to disability, anyone can help you through every stage of this process. If you need help due to sickness, only you, your legal guardian or near relative* can help you. Whoever helps you will need to complete and sign a section of your ballot request form and ballot.
Here’s how it works:
- To request a ballot, complete the Absentee Ballot Request Form and drop it off at your county board of elections office.
- Your county board will deliver your ballot to you (or your legal guardian, “near relative” or assistant if applicable).
- You can drop off your completed ballot at any early voting site in your county or your county board of elections office.
- If your completed ballot is dropped off at your county board of elections office on Election Day, it must be dropped off no later than 7:30 p.m.
* The NC State Board of Elections defines “near relative” as your spouse, sibling, parent or stepparent, mother- or father-in-law, child or stepchild, son- or daughter-in-law, grandparent or grandchild.
Learn more
NC State Board of Elections: Vote In Person on Election Day
