North Carolina voters: absentee voting for the 2026 primary elections begins this Monday. Starting January 12, the state's county election boards will start the process of mailing out ballots to those registered voters who've played it savvy and requested to vote by mail, as per details from the North Carolina State Board of Elections' recent announcement.
North Carolina voters who requested an absentee ballot should receive it soon, according to the State Board of Elections. Eligible residents can vote by mail without providing a reason, but the deadline to request a ballot is 5 p.m. on February 17. Under the state’s new rules, absentee ballots must be received by your local county board by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, March 3. Late ballots will not be accepted, so voters should plan accordingly.
Voters can now preview what they’ll see on primary day by checking their individual sample ballots on Voter Search. Unaffiliated voters have options, too—they can choose a party’s ballot or a nonpartisan option, depending on what’s available in their area.
For mail-in ballots, the ballot must be witnessed by two people or a notary, who must sign the return envelope. A copy of a photo ID should be included, or the Photo ID Exception Form provided with the ballot can be completed if no ID is available. The ID copy does not need to be in color but must be clear enough for election officials to read.
In-person early voting opens on February 12, with same-day voter registration available. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is February 17, and early voting ends on February 28 at 3 p.m. Election Day is March 3, with absentee ballots required to be received by 7:30 p.m. Finally, county boards will review the primary results on March 13 at 11 a.m. All this, according to a detailed schedule provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections on their website.
