2026 Voting Guides

North Carolina voting guide

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s what you need to vote in North Carolina.

Check Your Registration

Even if you voted last time, check that you’re still registered. Check your registration

Register by:
  • Online, at the DMV, or by mail: Fri., Oct. 9

Missed it? You can register and vote at an early voting site from Oct. 15 to Oct. 31. Bring proof of where you live.

Key Dates

  • Last day to register (5 p.m.; mail must be postmarked by this date)
  • Early voting starts; same-day registration available
  • Last day to request a mail ballot (5 p.m.)
  • Early voting ends (3 p.m.); last day of same-day registration
  • Election Day (polls 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.); mail ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m.
  • Provisional voters who lacked ID: bring ID or exception info to county board by noon (5th business day after Election Day)
  • Mailed ballots from military and overseas voters must arrive (5 p.m.)
  • County boards certify results (county canvass, 10 days after the election)
  • State Board certifies statewide results (state canvass)

Your Voting Checklist

  • Vote early in person from Thurs., Oct. 15 to Sat., Oct. 31.
  • Vote by mail. Any voter can vote by mail.
    Request a ballot by Tues., Oct. 20. Request a mail ballot
    Return it by Tues., Nov. 3.
    Problem with your ballot? Your county will contact you so you can fix a problem with your ballot envelope. Track your ballot
  • Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. local time. Find your polling place
  • Bring the right ID. You must show a photo ID, and most can be expired for up to one year.
    • NC driver's license
    • NC state ID from the DMV
    • Out-of-state license or ID, if you registered in the last 90 days
    • U.S. passport or passport card
    • Free NC voter ID card from your county
    • Approved college or university student ID
    • Approved government or charter school worker ID
    • Military or veterans ID with photo
    • Tribal ID card with photo
    • Public assistance ID with photo
    No ID? You can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form. See the official ID rules
  • Review your sample ballot before you go.
  • Have a past conviction?
    • With a felony, you can't vote until you finish your whole sentence, including probation or parole.
    • Then your right comes back, but you must register again.
    • A misdemeanor never takes away your right to vote.
  • Make a plan and bring three people. Make a plan

What’s on Your Ballot

These are the biggest races in North Carolina this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.

U.S. Senate

  • Roy Cooper Democratic · Campaign site
  • Governor of North Carolina 2017–2025; state attorney general 2001–2017.
  • Michael Whatley Republican · Campaign site
  • Chair of the Republican National Committee 2024–2025; former chair of the N.C. Republican Party; lawyer and energy-industry executive.

Stance on key issues

Voting rights & elections

Roy Cooper Democratic

As governor, vetoed a 2023 bill that added absentee voting rules and signature-match requirements; the legislature overrode the veto. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Says he 'led the charge to... protect the ballot' and fought for 'election integrity' as party chair. As RNC chair, sued the N.C. elections board over checking voters' citizenship and opposed digital student IDs for voting. Source

Policing, prisons & public safety

Roy Cooper Democratic

Points to his time as a prosecutor and attorney general. Has said he signed laws that restricted bail and made sentences tougher for gang leaders. As governor, signed bills on police mental health training and reporting excessive force. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Wants 'more cops on the street,' better police pay and to 'put dangerous criminals behind bars.' Supports ending cashless bail and would push a federal version of Iryna's Law, which limits pretrial release. Endorsed by the N.C. Fraternal Order of Police. Source

Immigration

Roy Cooper Democratic

Has said ICE and Border Patrol should secure the border and deport violent criminals here illegally, but that agents need more accountability: 'They are killing and detaining American citizens... and it must stop.' As governor he vetoed bills requiring sheriffs to hold people for ICE. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Says he is '100% supportive of President Trump securing the border and deporting the millions of criminal illegal aliens.' Supports more funding for enforcement and says sheriffs should be required to honor ICE detainers. Source

Abortion & health care

Roy Cooper Democratic

Supports legal abortion and has said he would defend reproductive rights; as governor he vetoed the state's 12-week ban. Wants to bring back expired ACA tax credits, reverse Medicaid cuts and cap yearly drug costs. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Says he will 'protect life' and has called himself 'the most pro-life chair in the history of the Republican Party.' Supports the 2025 federal law's Medicaid work requirements and removal of undocumented immigrants from Medicaid, saying they are 'widely supported.' Has said GOP leaders want to negotiate on expiring ACA subsidies. Source

Economy, taxes & cost of living

Roy Cooper Democratic

Says he will 'vote to roll back the tariffs,' which he says raise grocery and building costs. Supports stronger antitrust enforcement and banning pricing algorithms. Opposed the 2025 federal tax law overall but supports its tax breaks for tips, overtime and Social Security. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Supports President Trump's tariffs, saying 'they're going to help small businesses' and farmers. Supports the 2025 federal tax law that extended the 2017 tax cuts. Calls for 'reining in Washington's reckless spending.' Source

Workers & wages

Roy Cooper Democratic

Has pointed to working with the legislature to give state employees paid parental leave. Supported raising North Carolina's minimum wage in 2019. Wants to expand the child care tax credit and raise pay for child care workers. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

No public position found.

Housing

Roy Cooper Democratic

Supports incentives to build more homes, limits on big corporations and foreign companies buying single-family homes, and a ban on rent-setting software that lets landlords raise rents together. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Says he wants North Carolina to be a place 'where you can buy a home, raise a family and see your kids do better than you did.' No detailed housing plan found. Source

Schools

Roy Cooper Democratic

Opposes public money for private schools; as governor he vetoed a bill to expand private school vouchers. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Supports the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit for private school scholarships. Has said: 'Dollars should follow students, whether it is to a public school, a private school, a charter school, or homeschooling.' Source

Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights

Roy Cooper Democratic

As governor, vetoed bills on transgender athletes, gender identity lessons in early grades and gender-affirming care for minors, calling them 'political culture wars.' Endorsed by LGBTQ+ groups including the Human Rights Campaign. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Supports North Carolina's laws barring transgender girls from girls' sports and limiting gender-affirming care for minors. Has said Cooper 'is going to fight for boys who want to play in girls' sports and men who want to go in women's locker rooms.' Source

Climate & environmental justice

Roy Cooper Democratic

Has said 'the urgency of the climate crisis is real'; as governor set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Wants data centers to pay the full cost of the power they use and a ban on utility shutoffs during extreme heat or cold. Source

Michael Whatley Republican

Supports 'unleashing American energy' and an 'all of the above' approach including fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Led energy and environment teams on the 2016 Trump transition. Serves on the FEMA Review Council and says he helped deliver Hurricane Helene aid. Source

Ballot measures

  • Require Voter Identification Amendment. Changes the state constitution so that all voters, including people voting by mail, must show photo ID. Right now the constitution only requires photo ID for in-person voting (state law already asks mail voters for a copy of ID).
    Yes means photo ID would be required in the constitution for all voters, not just those voting in person.
    No means the constitution would keep requiring photo ID only for in-person voting.
  • Reduce Income Tax Rate Cap from 7% to 3.5% Amendment. Lowers the highest state income tax rate allowed by the constitution from 7% to 3.5%. Raising the rate above 3.5% later would need another vote of the people.
    Yes means the state income tax rate could never be higher than 3.5% unless voters change the constitution again.
    No means the cap stays at 7%.
  • Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment. Requires the legislature to pass laws limiting how much local property taxes can go up.
    Yes means the constitution would require state limits on how fast property taxes can rise.
    No means no new constitutional requirement to limit property tax increases.

Protect the Vote

  • Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
  • Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
  • If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
    • Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) — English
    • Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) — Spanish
    • Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) — Asian languages
    • Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) — Arabic
    • If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
    • If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
    • Know your rights

Organizations to Support

Anti-Racism Daily will never tell you who to vote for and does not endorse candidates. Information here has been pulled from the internet and may be inaccurate. Please fact-check your sources. If you spot a mistake, please let us know so we can fix it.

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