10 things for in-person early voters to know in NC

October 9, 2026

In-person early voting for the 2026 general election begins Thursday and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 in all North Carolina counties.

Statewide, 370 early voting sites will open for general election voters. Early voting is popular in general elections. In the 2024 general election, 74% of voters cast their ballots during the early voting period; in 2022, 53% did.

“We look forward to a smooth and successful early voting period,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections, in a press release. “I would like to thank our county election administrators and the thousands of poll workers who will ensure that voters can cast their ballots securely and efficiently.”

The following are 10 things for voters to know as early voting begins:

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 November 3, 2026, General Election (PDF). The busiest early voting days are often the first day and the last couple of days.
Sample ballots. Registered voters can find their sample ballot through the Voter Search tool. For information about candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals, see the Judicial Voter Guide: 2026 General Election. The State Board does not provide detailed information about candidates for other offices. However, many media outlets and advocacy groups do. Many candidates also have websites and social media accounts. Knowing your candidate choices and being familiar with your ballot may help your voting experience go more quickly.
Same-day registration. Individuals who miss the regular voter registration deadline on Oct. 9 may register and vote during the early voting period. These 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 with their current name and address. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting.
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.
Bring your photo ID. All voters will be asked to show photo ID when they check in. Most voters will show their driver’s license, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted. If you have a photo ID but did not bring it to the voting site, you can (1) go get your ID and return to the voting site to vote a regular ballot, or (2) vote a provisional ballot and bring an acceptable ID to your county elections office by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 10. If you are unable to show a photo ID when voting, you may cast a provisional ballot and fill out a Photo ID Exception Form at the voting site explaining why. More information about photo ID is available at BringItNC.gov.
Free photo IDs. Any registered voter who needs a photo ID can get one for free from their county board of elections through the end of the early voting period. For details, go to Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
Voter assistance. Voters in need of help may bring an eligible person to help them enter and exit the polling place or complete their ballot. Election officials are also available to help voters. Curbside voting is available for voters if they are unable to enter the voting site without physical assistance because of their age or physical disability. For more information, visit Curbside Voting.
No ballot photos. North Carolina law prohibits photographing or videotaping voted ballots. Voters may use electronic devices in the voting booth to access candidate information. However, they may not use the devices to communicate with anyone or take photographs of their voted ballot.
Peace at the polls. All voters should respect the rights of others to take part in the election. Election officials are trained to quickly address incidents that might interfere with a voter’s ability to cast their ballot. Intimidating any voter is a crime. Voters who feel harassed or intimidated should notify an election official immediately.
Absentee ballot drop-off. Voters who vote by absentee ballot can return it by mail or hand it to an election official at an early voting site in their county. They can also drop it off in person to their county board of elections. For more information, see Detailed Instructions to Vote by Mail.