Early in-person voting kicks off today, Feb. 12, 2026, in Mecklenburg County, and Charlotte-area voters are staring down a crowded primary ballot ahead of the March 3 election. From high-profile federal races to county commission contests and judicial seats, voters will be weighing in on who advances to November and who shapes county government and local courts in the meantime.
The Political Beat candidate guide breaks down the offices Mecklenburg voters will see on their ballots, including U.S. Senate, two North Carolina Court of Appeals seats, congressional contests in the 8th and 12th districts, several state House and Senate seats, three county commission at-large slots and district commission races, along with multiple superior and district court contests. As reported by WSOC, voters can also consult the official candidate lists and sample ballots maintained by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
Contests to watch in Charlotte
The county commission at-large race is one to keep an eye on. Candidate filings show a crowded Democratic field that includes both incumbents and challengers, with names such as Leigh Altman, Arthur Griffin and Yvette Townsend-Ingram among those running for three at-large seats. Local filings and reporting also flag the U.S. Senate primary and the congressional contests in NC-8 and NC-12 as marquee races that will influence how Mecklenburg is represented in Raleigh and Washington this fall.
When and where to vote
Mecklenburg County’s early voting period runs Feb. 12 through Feb. 28, with Election Day set for Tuesday, March 3. For local early voting sites, sample ballots and other county-specific details, voters can use the resources on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections website.
How to prepare
Before heading to the polls, voters can confirm their registration status, pull up a sample ballot and find their assigned polling place using the North Carolina State Board of Elections tools at vt.ncsbe.gov. The State Board also posts the absentee request deadline and guidance on acceptable voter photo IDs for both in-person voting and absentee ballot drop-off.
Local voices and endorsements
Local political groups are already weighing in. The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and other community organizations have released endorsement slates covering a range of county and state races, underscoring how neighborhood and advocacy groups are working to shape outcomes ahead of the primary. Coverage of those endorsements and campaign previews has appeared in local reporting and roundups tied to candidate filing deadlines.
Voters with questions about how or where to vote can turn to the state lookup tools or contact the county board for help with sample ballots, absentee requests or polling-location information. Anyone seeking more detail on who is on the ballot can also review the Political Beat candidate responses and local filing roundups to compare positions before casting a vote.
