Skip to main content
NC early voting is open Feb 12-28!

NC early voting is open Feb 12-28!

MomsRising MomsRising Near You MomsVote

NC: Vote early! Feb 12-28

February 12, 2026
BethM's picture
Beth Messersmith
Add your voice to the comments

Early voting is open in North Carolina from Thursday, February 12th-Saturday, February 28th!  This is our moment to bank our votes, beat the Election Day lines, and make our voices heard in the 2026 Primaries. 

There are lots of benefits to voting early. You can pick the time that works best for you and avoid any Election Day schedule snafus that might keep you from the polls. Lines are typically short making it easy to get in and out fast. And, if you missed the registration deadline to vote on Election Day, you can still register and vote on the same day during the early voting period. 

Check out the dates and links below for all you need to know to vote early this year.  

Key Dates to Remember

  • Thursday, Feb 12: Early Voting Begins (8:00 AM).
  • Saturday, Feb 28: Early Voting Ends (3:00 PM).
  • Tuesday, March 3: Primary Election Day.

4 Ways to Get Vote-Ready Today

  • Find Your Early Voting Site Unlike Election Day, you can vote at any early voting site in your county. Most sites are open 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM on weekdays, but hours can vary. Find your early voting sites and hours here
  • Missed the Registration Deadline? No Problem! Even though the February 6 deadline has passed, you can still use Same-Day Registration during the early voting period (Feb 12–28).
  • Grab Your Photo ID North Carolina now requires a photo ID to vote. Most will use a driver’s license, but many other IDs are accepted.
    • Don't have one? You can get a FREE voter photo ID at your County Board of Elections office during the early voting period!
    • Forgot your ID? You can still vote! Just ask for an "ID Exception Form" at the polls. Check the list of acceptable IDs
  • Check out the top 10 tips on early voting from the State Board of Elections to make sure you get all your questions answered. 

One Final Quick Check

Before you head out to vote,  take 60 seconds to ensure your experience is seamless:

    • Review Your Sample Ballot: Know who is running before you walk in. View Sample Ballot
    • Registration Repair: If you received a notice about your ID number, check the Registration Repair list to ensure your ballot counts.

Let’s get out there and make a difference together. Happy voting!

The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.

MomsRising.org strongly encourages our readers to post comments in response to blog posts. We value diversity of opinions and perspectives. Our goals for this space are to be educational, thought-provoking, and respectful. So we actively moderate comments and we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that undermine these goals. Thanks!