Voting in North Carolina, 2026

Every date, in order

1. Fri, Oct 9 · passed
   Registration deadline
   Register by Friday October 9, 2026, 25 days before Election Day, or in person during early voting through Saturday October 31.¹
2. Thu, Oct 15 · passed
   Early voting begins
3. Tue, Oct 20 · passed
   Last day for mail ballot applications
   Mail ballot applications must be received by Tuesday, October 20, 2026.¹
4. Sat, Oct 31 · 4 days
   Early voting ends
   Early voting runs from Thursday October 15 until 3 p.m. on Saturday October 31, 2026.¹
5. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
   Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
   Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.¹
6. Fri, Nov 13 · 17 days
   County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
   County boards canvass at 11 a.m. on the 10th day after the election, November 13, or “a reasonable time thereafter” if counting is incomplete “despite due diligence." N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-182.5(b).
7. Fri, Dec 4 · 38 days
   State canvass
   The State Board canvasses at 11 a.m. on the third Tuesday after the election and may adjourn up to 10 days for missing county abstracts, which is December 4, 2026. § 163-182.5(c).²
8. Thu, Dec 10 · 44 days
   State certification
   The state certifies the results by Thursday, December 10, 2026.
9. After certification
   Deadline to contest the result
   If the protest concerns how votes were counted or results tabulated, must be filed before the beginning of the county canvass meeting; if the protest concerns how votes were counted or results tabulated and states good cause for delay in filing: 5 p.m. on the second business day after the county has completed its canvass and certified results. N.C. Gen. Stat § 163-182.9. Contests for Council of State offices and legislative seats must be filed with the Clerk of the House within 10 days after the certificate of election is issued.³