[State Board of Elections] 10 Tips for Early Primary Voters in North Carolina | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     In-person early voting for the 2026 primary election begins Thursday and ends at 3 p.m. February 28 in all 100 counties.

    Statewide, 319 early voting sites will open for voters in the primary, when voters will select candidates to move on to the general election ballot in November.

    Early voting is especially popular in N.C. general elections, but it is also used by many primary voters. In 2022, 59% of primary voters cast ballots on Election Day, 39% voted during the early voting period, and 2% voted by mail.

    The following are 10 tips for voters as early voting begins:

1. Early voting locations. Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any early voting site in their county. For sites and hours in all 100 counties, use the Early Voting Sites Search tool. Also see Early Voting Sites for the March 3, 2026 Primary Election (PDF).
2. Sample ballots. Sample ballots for the primary are available through the Voter Search tool. The State Board does not provide detailed information about candidates, but some media outlets and advocacy groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Knowing your candidate choices in advance and being familiar with the ballot may help your voting experience go more quickly.
3. Primary ballot styles. In a partisan primary, voters affiliated with a political party may only vote their party's ballot and may not vote in another party's primary. For example, a registered Democrat may only vote in the Democratic Party primary. This remains true even if the party you are affiliated with does not have a primary. Unaffiliated voters may choose any one political party's ballot or a nonpartisan ballot, if available in their jurisdiction, in a primary election.
4. Same-day registration. Individuals who missed the regular voter registration deadline on February 6 may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live by showing a driver's license or other government document, paycheck, utility bill, or bank statement that has their current name and residence address on it. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting.
5. Updating a Registration. When you check in to vote at an early voting site, you may update your name or address within the same county, if necessary. You may not change your party affiliation at an early voting site during a primary election.
6. Bring your photo ID. Voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in to vote. Most voters will show their driver's license, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted. Voters who do not have photo ID can meet the photo ID requirement by either (1) filling out a form explaining why they are unable to show ID, or (2) showing their ID at the county board of elections office by 12 p.m. (noon) March 6. More information about the photo ID requirement is available at BringItNC.gov.
7. Free photo IDs. Any registered voter who needs a photo ID can get one for free from their county board of elections office during the early voting period, which ends on February 28. For details, go to Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
8. Voter assistance. Voters in need of assistance may bring an eligible person to help them enter and exit the polling place or to help them complete their ballot according to the voter's instructions. Election officials are also available to help voters. Curbside voting is also available for voters unable to enter the voting site. For more information, visit Curbside Voting.
9. No ballot photos. North Carolina law prohibits photographing or videotaping voted ballots. Voters may use electronic devices in the voting booth to access a slate card or candidate information, provided they don't use the devices to communicate with anyone or take photographs of their voted ballot.
10. Peace at the polls. The State Board asks that all voters respect the rights of others to participate in the election. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.

    For more information about early voting, please visit Vote Early in Person.


   Contact: Jason Tyson
   Phone: (984) 289-9542
   Email: ncsbe.comms@ncsbe.gov