N.C. General Elections 2026 Voter Registration (deadline 10/9 at 5 p.m.)
- The voter registration deadline* for the November 2026 general election is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Read more: Voter Registration Deadlines.
- The November 2026 general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Learn about the 2026 general election: Upcoming Election.
- If you miss the voter registration deadline, you may still be able to register and vote or make changes (except for party affiliation) to your voter registration and vote during the early voting period. Find out more: Register in Person During Early Voting.
*The deadline differs for military and overseas citizens.
To learn more, visit https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election
To learn more about elections in Raleigh specifically, visit https://raleighnc.gov/government/services/vote-local-our-community-our-city-your-vote
From the above website:
Important Tips for Voters
- Need to register or update your registration? See How to Register or Updating Registration.
- Check your registration: Voters can check to make sure their registration information is accurate and up to date using the Voter Search tool. There, you can also find your polling place, absentee ballot information, and more.
- Find your sample ballot: All eligible, registered voters will find their sample ballot(s) in the “Your Sample Ballot” section of their Voter Search profile when they become available. For even-year elections, sample ballots are typically available 50 days before Election Day.
- Don’t forget your photo ID: North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Learn more: Voter ID.
- Three ways to vote: Follow the links below to learn about the voting methods available to voters.
*RULE CHANGE FOR 2026: For voting by mail, please be aware that the Trump administration has provided new rules to the U.S. Postal Service for 2026 that change the postmark date guidelines so that instead of your mail being postmarked the date that you mailed it, it will now not be postmarked until it runs through an automated machine, which could be days later. You are still able to take your mail up to the counter at the USPS and request they postmark it in person there to show it is on time. If you mail day-of, and do not do a manual postmarking, your ballot has a chance of being disqualified if it is not read by the machine that day. This is important to know so you can plan to mail days in advance.