N.C. General Elections 2026 Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

The absentee ballot request deadline* for the November 2026 general election is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.

The November 2026 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Learn how to request an absentee ballot: Vote By Mail.

*RULE CHANGE FOR 2026: For voting by mail, please be aware that the Trump administration has provided new rules to the U.S. Postal Service for 2026 that change the postmark date guidelines so that instead of your mail being postmarked the date that you mailed it, it will now not be postmarked until it runs through an automated machine, which could be days later. You are still able to take your mail up to the counter at the USPS and request they postmark it in person there to show it is on time. If you mail day-of, and do not do a manual postmarking, your ballot has a chance of being disqualified if it is not read by the machine that day. This is important to know so you can plan to mail days in advance.

To learn more about elections in Raleigh specifically, visit https://raleighnc.gov/government/services/vote-local-our-community-our-city-your-vote

Community event in Raleigh, Wake County, NC 27601.