North Carolina Primary Elections 2026: Key Dates and Voter Information

North Carolina voters will head to the polls in 2026 for both primary and general elections. The primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3, 2026. North Carolina State Board of Elections provides comprehensive information for voters.

Important Dates for the 2026 Primary Election

• January 12, 2026: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who have submitted a request. NC Voter Guide
• February 6, 2026: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.). NC Voter Guide
• February 12, 2026: In-person early voting and same-day registration begins. NC Voter Guide
• February 17, 2026: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.). NC Voter Guide
• February 28, 2026: In-person early voting and same-day registration ends (3 p.m.). NC Voter Guide
• March 3, 2026: Primary Election Day. NCSBE, NC Voter Guide
• March 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.). NC Voter Guide

Voter ID Requirements

In the 2026 election, North Carolina voters will be required to show photo identification. NC Voter Guide provides facts about voter ID requirements in North Carolina.

Who Can Vote in the Primary?

Voters affiliated with a political party may only vote in that party’s primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose to vote in any one political party’s primary or a nonpartisan ballot, if available. A voter cannot vote in more than one party’s primary. NCSBE

Second Primary Possibility

If no candidate receives the necessary vote percentage to win a nomination, a second primary may be held on May 12, 2026. NCSBE

Resources for Voters

• NC Voter Guide: Information on candidates, early voting sites, and voter ID.
• North Carolina State Board of Elections: Official election information, and dates.
• Ballotpedia: Overview of the 2026 elections in North Carolina.
• Nonpartisan hotline: 888-OUR-VOTE