Vote!
Your vote is your power. Here’s how to use it.
Key dates for North Carolina’s 2026 general election, the official tools you need, and the organizations protecting your right to vote.
Dates & Deadlines
2026 General Election
- Sep4Absentee ballots go out to military & overseas voters
- Oct9Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)*
- Oct15Early voting begins — same-day registration available
- Oct20Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.)*
- Oct31Early voting ends (3 p.m.)
- Nov3Election Day — polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Nov3Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.)*
*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters. Find all official dates at the NC State Board of Elections.
Check your registration & sample ballot
Look up your registration, polling place, and the exact ballot you’ll see.
Voter search →Register to vote
Register by mail, online through the DMV, or in person during early voting.
How to register →Request an absentee ballot
Any registered North Carolina voter can vote by mail — no reason needed.
Request a ballot →Vote in person
Early voting sites and Election Day polling places, plus what to bring.
Plan your vote →Partners in Democracy
North Carolina organizations protecting your vote
Statewide voting rights & democracy
Democracy North Carolina
One of the best-known nonpartisan voting rights groups in NC. Focuses on voter access, election protection, policy advocacy, and building civic power in Black, brown, low-wealth, student, and marginalized communities.
democracync.org →You Can Vote
Nonpartisan nonprofit focused on voter registration, education, and helping people overcome barriers to voting — especially youth, formerly incarcerated people, low-income voters, and communities affected by voter suppression.
youcanvote.org →NC Voter Protection Alliance
Focused on protecting voting rights, election transparency, voter protection infrastructure, and combating voter intimidation and disenfranchisement.
ncvpa.org →Marginalized & frontline communities
Action NC
Grassroots organizing on racial, immigrant, and economic justice, and increased voter participation through community leadership development.
actionnc.org →NC Empowerment Organization
Civic engagement and political education in disenfranchised and marginalized communities, including voter registration and research on legislative disenfranchisement.
ncempowermentorganization.org →Power the Vote NC
An initiative of the NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation focused on year-round civic engagement in frontline Eastern NC communities.
nclcvf.org →Youth & community civic engagement
Returning citizens & formerly incarcerated voters
Forward Justice
Civil rights organization heavily involved in restoring voting rights and legal advocacy for formerly incarcerated people and Black communities in NC.
Emancipate NC
Criminal justice reform, civic empowerment, and support for formerly incarcerated individuals, including civic participation initiatives.
Join. Donate. Participate.
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