Voters in the primary choose the candidate they want to represent their party in the general election in November.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ North Carolina is sending absentee mail-in ballots to any voters who request one for the March primary starting today, Jan. 12.ย
Primary election day is Tuesday, March 3. The primary is a chance for voters to choose the candidate they want to represent their party in certain races.ย
In the 2026 election, one highly anticipatedย U.S. Senate seat and all congressional seats are up to North Carolina voters.ย
Voters have multiple voting options in the upcoming primary and general elections.ย
Voters can vote early in person at an early voting site in their county up until Feb. 28 at 3 p.m., vote on Election Day at their polling place or vote by mail.ย
To vote by mail, voters must request an absentee ballot online or fill out a request form and submit it to their county board of elections by Feb. 17 at 5 p.m.ย
Absentee mail-in ballots require a seven step process including having witnesses sign and approve the ballot and providing a copy of an acceptable photo ID or ID exception form.ย
Absentee ballots must received by the county board of elections by Election Day, meaning ballots should be mailed back a few days before March 3 for primaries and Nov. 3 for general elections.ย
North Carolina citizens who are not registered to vote are encouraged to register to vote by Friday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. so they can vote in the primaries. Information on how to register to vote can be found on the NC State Board of Elections website here.ย
Registered voters can see their sample ballot to see who is up for election by looking up their ballot on the NCSBE voter lookup here. ย
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