Early voting in Wake County runs Oct. 15-31, 2026, with same-day registration. Election Day is Nov. 3, polls 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Elections office: 919-404-4040.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated before every election. All facts come from the Wake County Board of Elections and the N.C. State Board of Elections. This page does not endorse any candidate or position.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 15. The Wake County Board of Elections runs every election in Raleigh, including city races, and its office is at 1200 N. New Hope Road.

Who to call

  • Wake County Board of Elections: 919-404-4040, voter@wake.gov
  • Absentee ballots: absentee@wake.gov
  • Office: Board of Elections Operations Center, 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 (not an Election Day polling place)
  • Your registration, polling place and sample ballot: the state’s voter lookup

Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026

Date What
Oct. 9 (passed) Regular registration deadline
Thursday, Oct. 15 Early voting begins; same-day registration opens at early voting sites
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5 p.m. Deadline to request an absentee ballot
Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. Early voting ends
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day; polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received

Dates come from the county’s registration notice, early voting page and absentee voting page. The absentee request deadline is set as 5 p.m. two weeks before Election Day.

Early voting in Raleigh

You can vote at any early voting site in Wake County. Hours at every site:

  • Weekdays, Oct. 15-16, 19-23 and 26-30: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25: 1 to 6 p.m.

Early voting sites in Raleigh:

Site Address
Abbotts Creek Community Center 9950 Durant Road
Optimist Park Community Center 5900 Whittier Drive
John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Lake Lynn Community Center 7921 Ray Road
Laurel Hills Community Center 3808 Edwards Mill Road
NC State Western Boulevard Business Services 1220 Varsity Drive
Wake County Commons Building 4011 Carya Drive
Wake Tech South Campus, Building T 4723 Advantage Way

The full countywide list is on the county’s early voting page. Eligible people who missed the Oct. 9 deadline can register and vote at the same visit during early voting.

Election Day

Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct; at the wrong one you vote a provisional ballot. Find your polling place with the state lookup. Curbside voting is offered at every Wake County polling place for voters who cannot go inside because of age or a disability, according to the county’s Election Day page.

Photo ID

North Carolina asks in-person voters to show a valid photo ID; the list of accepted IDs is on the state’s voter ID page. Without one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment, or vote provisionally and bring an ID to the board of elections by noon on the third business day after the election. Mail voters include a photocopy of a valid photo ID with the ballot.

Voting by mail

Request a ballot through the state’s absentee request portal or on the county’s paper form, signed by you or a near relative, by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Return the sealed ballot with the witness section completed and a copy of your ID. It must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, by mail to Wake County Board of Elections, Attn: Absentee, P.O. Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602, or by hand at 1200 N. New Hope Road. Drop boxes are not allowed.

What is on the ballot in Raleigh

The county’s candidate list for Nov. 3 includes, depending on where you live:

  • U.S. Senate and U.S. House (Districts 2, 4 and 13 in Wake County)
  • N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals seats, and state Senate and House districts
  • Wake County Board of Commissioners, Board of Education districts, sheriff, clerk of superior court and district attorney
  • Raleigh mayor and City Council, at-large and Districts A through E
  • A $680 million Wake County school bond referendum (see our schools guide)

Your exact ballot is in the state’s voter lookup and the county’s sample ballot key.

What this means for you

  • Missed the registration deadline? Go to an early voting site by Oct. 31.
  • Bring a photo ID, or be ready to sign the affidavit.
  • Mail voters: request by Oct. 20 and return it in person if time is short.

Frequently asked questions

When is early voting in Wake County?

Early voting for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election runs Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Can I still register to vote in Wake County?

The regular deadline was Oct. 9, 2026, but eligible people can register and vote at the same time at any early voting site during early voting, Oct. 15-31.

What ID do I need to vote in North Carolina?

Voters are asked to show a valid photo ID in person. Without one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment, or bring an ID to the board of elections by noon on the third business day after the election.

What is the deadline to request an absentee ballot in Wake County?

Requests are due by 5 p.m. two weeks before the election, which is Tuesday, Oct. 20, for Nov. 3. Ballots must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; a postmark does not count.

Is the Raleigh mayor on the ballot in 2026?

Yes. The Nov. 3, 2026, ballot for Raleigh voters includes the Raleigh mayor and City Council seats, at-large and districts A through E, according to the Wake County Board of Elections candidate list.