Wake County Election Dates for 2026: In-Person Voting Starts October 15
Election Day is November 3, but in North Carolina's last midterm, more people voted before it than on it. Early voting brought in 53.1% of ballots statewide, against 41.7% on Election Day.
Of all the Wake County election dates this fall, then, the one to plan around is the early voting window, from October 15 until 3 pm on October 31. It has more days and more places to vote, and it's your only chance to register late.
Wake County election dates at a glance
The dates below are from the NC State Board of Elections and the Wake County Board of Elections.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 9 (5 pm) | Regular voter registration deadline |
| Thursday, October 15 | In-person early voting opens at 18 sites across Wake |
| Tuesday, October 20, (5 pm) | Deadline to request a mail ballot |
| Saturday, October 31, (3 pm) | Early voting closes |
| Tuesday, November 3 | Election Day. Polls open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Mail ballots must arrive by 7:30 pm. |
Why the early voting window is the one to plan around
On Election Day, you get thirteen hours on a Tuesday and one polling place, the one you're assigned to. Early voting gives you seventeen days, including three Saturdays, two Sundays and weekday evenings, at any of Wake's 18 sites. That leaves room to vote around a work shift, a school pickup or a flight, at a site near your office or your kid's school.
It's also the most common choice. Early voting was how most North Carolinians voted in 2022. In Wake, more than 200,000 people voted early that fall, according to unofficial county figures reported at the time.
What changed: The time and place reasons are now one paragraph, set up as a side-by-side comparison. The paragraph-per-reason structure is gone.
Missed October 9? You can still register
The October 9 deadline applies to people who plan to vote by mail or on Election Day. It doesn't close the door for everyone.
During early voting, North Carolina allows same-day registration. If you aren't registered in Wake, you can go to any early voting site, register and vote in the same visit. You'll need to show proof of where you live, and you'll be asked for a photo ID.
That option ends when early voting closes at 3 pm on October 31. There is no same-day registration on Election Day, apart from narrow exceptions for people who became citizens or had their rights restored after the deadline. If you've just moved to Wake, or you aren't sure you're registered, the early voting window is your last practical chance.
Read More: Why Joe Teague Jr. is running for Wake County Clerk of Superior Court in 2026
When Election Day still works
Election Day is a fine plan if you're registered and know where your polling place is. More than four in ten North Carolina voters used it in 2022. Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on November 3. The NC State Board of Elections voter search will confirm your registration and polling place.
By mail, request a ballot by 5 pm on October 20 and get it back to your county board of elections by 7:30 pm on November 3. It's the least used option, at about 5% of ballots statewide in 2022.
Every voter is asked for photo ID. Without one, you can still vote: in person with a provisional ballot and a Photo ID Exception Form, or by mail with the same form in place of a copy of your ID.
What's on the Wake ballot this year
This is a general election, and the ballot is long. Ballotpedia counts 21 Wake County seats on the ballot, including sheriff, district attorney, county commissioners, judges and the clerk of superior court. Raleigh voters will also see their city's municipal races on the same ballot.
North Carolina ended straight-ticket voting in 2014, so there is no single mark that fills in every race. You make a choice race by race. It helps to look at a sample ballot before you go, so the races further down don't come as a surprise.
This site belongs to Joe Teague Jr.'s campaign for clerk of superior court. If that race is new to you, you can read about Joe Teague Jr. and why he's running.
Pick your day now
Any of Wake's 18 early voting sites, any day from Thursday, October 15, to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Pick yours and put it on the calendar. Or vote on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3) between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm, at your assigned polling place.