Voter Dates and Deadlines

Here are voter dates and deadlines for the 2026 primary election in North Carolina:

Jan. 12, 2026: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form.

Feb. 6, 2026: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.).*

Feb. 12, 2026: In-person early voting begins.

Feb. 17, 2026: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.).*

Feb. 28, 2026: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).

March 3, 2026: Primary Election Day.

March 3, 2026: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).*

Find important dates for the 2026 general election on our web calendar: Voter Dates and Deadlines.

* Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.