North Carolina Early Voting Begins Thursday as November 3 Election Approaches

NORTH CAROLINA — In-person early voting for the November 3 general election begins Thursday, October 15, giving Triad residents a chance to cast ballots before Election Day. The Forsyth County Board of Elections' published schedule says voting begins at 8 a.m. on opening day.

The state is entering a compressed final stretch of the election calendar. The standard voter-registration deadline was October 9. The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is October 20, while the last day of early voting is Saturday, October 31, ending at 3 p.m. Election Day itself is Tuesday, November 3, with polls scheduled to operate from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Voters should check their county board of elections for early-voting locations and operating hours, which are not necessarily identical to Election Day precinct assignments. In Forsyth County, the board publishes sample ballots and a voter lookup tool so residents can see which races and measures will appear on their ballots.

The 2026 ballot includes contests for Congress, state offices, county positions and local offices where applicable. The precise set of races varies by address. In Winston-Salem, city elections are also on the published Forsyth County schedule, while other Triad municipalities follow different election cycles.

People who plan to vote by mail should allow time for both requesting and returning a ballot. Forsyth County's schedule lists 7:30 p.m. on November 3 as the return deadline for ordinary absentee ballots and later cure deadlines for certain documentation issues.

Early voting provides flexibility for people whose work or family schedules make Election Day difficult. It also gives voters time to resolve questions about their polling location and ballot before the final day. TTN News will continue covering major local election developments and official changes to voting guidance.