NC Primary Election Day 2026 important dates, info to remember

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Before you know it, Primary Election Day will be here in North Carolina.

Here are some important dates to remember and the information Triangle voters need to know.

Important Dates

Absentee ballots will be mailed out starting Monday. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is February 17 at 5 p.m.

Early in-person voting starts on February 12.

Primary Election Day is March 3.

Important Tips for Voters

Click here to see how to register or update voter registration.

Sample ballots can be found here. For even-year elections, sample ballots are typically available 50 days before Election Day.

North Carolina voters need to show photo ID when they check in to vote.

There are three ways to vote in NC including early in-person, in-person on Primary Election Day, and to vote by mail.

Voters affiliated with any political party may vote the ballot of candidates for their party only.

For example, a registered Republican may vote the Republican primary ballot only. Some recognized political parties in North Carolina may not have primary ballots.

Unaffiliated voters may choose to vote any one political party’s ballot or a nonpartisan ballot (if available).

A voter cannot vote in more than one party’s primary.

If no candidate reaches the vote percentage necessary to become the nominee in a contest on the ballot, a runner-up can request a second primary to be held on May 12, 2026.

New Congressional Map

This is the first election since the North Carolina House approved a new Congressional voting map.

The map institutes changes to two districts: District 1 and District 3. District 1, the state’s lone swing seat, is currently represented by Democrat Don Davis, who won his election by less than 2% in 2024. Republican Greg Murphy, who did not face a Democratic challenger in 2024, represents District 3.