Early Voting

In-person early voting for the 2026 primary election begins today in all 100 counties of North Carolina. Voters will have until 3 p.m. on February 28 to cast their ballot before the Primary Election Day on March 3.

Twenty state legislators will likely win another term after no one filed to run against them in next year's election. All but one of the lawmakers running unopposed for re-election are Democrats who represent left-leaning districts.

What could big numbers for early voting in North Carolina mean for Election Day? Professors Kerry Haynie of Duke University and Michael Bitzer of Catawba College join co-host Jeff Tiberii to break down the record-breaking turnout.

North Carolina elections officials say that more than 4.2 million voters cast ballots at early in-person voting sites, with turnout in western counties hit by Hurricane Helene outpacing the rest of the state.

As of Friday, more than 4 million, or 51%, of North Carolina's registered voters had already cast ballots by mail or in-person during the early voting period, which ends Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.

Robeson County consistently voted for Democratic presidential candidates until Donald Trump's first run. It's one of North Carolina's more purple counties.

Elections officials in western North Carolina originally planned to open 80 early voting sites for the general election, storm damage from Helene and road closures have reduced that number to 76

North Carolina election officials won't know until later this week whether some in-person early voting sites in areas hit by Helene need to be relocated.

The state elections board instructed counties to submit their early voting plans for the fall general election ahead of schedule.

Early in-person voting has started across North Carolina for next month's runoff elections, including one congressional and two statewide primary contests.