Holly Springs, NC, Oct. 5, 2026 — North Carolina residents have until 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 9th, to register through the regular process for the November 3rd general election. Those who miss the deadline can still register and vote during early voting, which begins October 15th and ends at 3:00 p.m. October 31st.
North Carolina residents with a state driver’s license or NCDMV identification card can register online through the DMV. A paper application also can be delivered or mailed to the county board of elections, but it must be received or postmarked by October 9th. Those mailing an application close to the deadline should request a manual postmark at the post office counter, since the processing postmark may differ from the day the envelope was dropped off.
To register, a person must be a U.S. citizen, have lived in the county for at least 30 days before Election Day and be at least 18 by November 3rd. A person serving a felony sentence, including probation, parole or post-release supervision, is not eligible to register. Citizenship documents are not required to register.
Residents can check their registration through the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ Voter Search tool by entering their first and last names and selecting Wake County. Their record shows registration status, residential address, party affiliation and assigned Election Day polling place. Sample ballots are available there once finalized, along with absentee ballot information.
An “inactive” registration status does not prevent someone from voting. Inactive voters remain registered and will be asked to confirm their address when they vote.
Voters should bring an acceptable photo ID when voting in person. Accepted forms include a North Carolina driver’s license, NCDMV identification card, U.S. passport or passport card, and a free voter photo ID issued by a county board of elections. Certain approved student and public employee IDs, military and veterans photo IDs, and tribal photo IDs also qualify.
The address on a photo ID does not have to match the voter’s registration address. Most accepted IDs must be unexpired or expired for no more than one year, although exceptions apply. Voters 65 or older, for example, may use an otherwise acceptable expired ID if it was valid on their 65th birthday.
Voters unable to show acceptable photo ID can cast a provisional ballot and complete a Photo ID Exception Form explaining the qualifying reason. Election workers can explain the available options and requirements.
Those registering and voting during early voting also need proof of their current residence. Accepted documents include a North Carolina driver’s license showing the current address, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the voter’s name and address. If that document is not an acceptable voting photo ID, a separate acceptable photo ID should be brought as well.
Wake County voters may cast an early ballot at any early voting site in the county. On Election Day, they must vote at their assigned polling place. Polls will be open November 3rd from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and anyone in line at their assigned location at closing time may vote.
To find an Election Day polling place, residents can open their Voter Search record and look under “Your Voting Locations.” The state also offers an Election Day Polling Place Search that uses a residential address. Early voting locations and hours are available through a separate Early Voting Site Search; users should select Wake County.
Wake County’s early voting hours are 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays and 1–6 p.m. Sundays during October 15th–31st. South Wake locations include the W.E. Hunt Recreation Center at 301 Stinson Avenue in Holly Springs and the John M. Brown Community Center at 53 Hunter Street in Apex. The state’s November early voting PDF lists Wake County locations on pages 41–44.
Registered voters also may vote by mail. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. October 20th, and the completed ballot must be received by the county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. November 3rd. Mail voters must include a copy of acceptable photo ID or an ID Exception Form and follow the instructions provided with their ballot.
Military and overseas voters have separate registration and absentee voting deadlines. Residents with questions about registration or voting locations can contact the Wake County Board of Elections at (919) 404-4040. Its office is at 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.
Official source documents and lookup tools
2026 election dates and deadlines
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-electionHow to register to vote
https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-registerNorth Carolina voter registration application — PDF
https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Voter_Registration/NCVoterRegForm_06W.pdfVoter Search: registration, polling place and sample ballot
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/Election Day Polling Place Search
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/Early Voting Site Search
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/November 2026 early voting locations and hours — PDF
https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/One-Stop_Early_Voting/2026/Early_Voting_Site_List_November_2026.pdfSame-day registration and residence documentation
https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register/register-person-during-early-votingPhoto ID requirements and exceptions
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/voter-idVote-by-mail guidance
https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mailWake County Board of Elections
https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/board-elections)