The 2026 general election is coming up. Thursday, Oct. 15 marks the first day of early voting, which runs until the end of the month. That's a roughly two-week window for residents to get their votes in early and avoid the Election Day crowds on Nov. 3.
This year, Wilmington-area residents will have the opportunity to vote on a number of local and statewide races, as well as a few proposed amendments to the state constitution. You can visit www.StarNewsOnline.com to learn more about candidates running for local offices.
If you're planning to cast your ballot early this year, here's what you need to know and prepare, including voting locations and requirements.
When is early voting in North Carolina?
Early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 15 and runs through Saturday. Oct. 31. Polls close
on the final day at 3 p.m., and the next opportunity to vote isn't until Election Day on Nov. 3.
When is the voter registration deadline?
The voter registration deadline passed for the 2026 general election on Oct. 9.
However, if you missed the deadline, you can still register when you go to cast your ballot. To do so, you must provide acceptable proof of residence. Same-day registration is only available during early voting and will not be available on Election Day.
Where can I vote early in the Wilmington area?
Brunswick County
- Brunswick County Cooperative Extension, 25 Referendum Drive NE, Building N, Bolivia
- Leland Cultural Arts Center, 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland
- Homer E. Wright Event Center, 4136 Southport-Supply Road, Southport
- Brunswick Center at Supply, 101 Stone Chimney Road SE, Supply
- Sunset Beach Community Center, 200 Station Trail, Sunset Beach
New Hanover County
- New Hanover County Board of Elections Office, 226 Government Center Drive, Wilmington
- Northeast Library, David M. Paynter Room, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington
- Carolina Beach Town Hall, Police Training Room, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
- MLK Community Center, Multipurpose Room, 401 S. Eighth Street, Wilmington
- Pine Valley Library, Pelican and Osprey Rooms, 3802 S College Road, Wilmington
Pender County
- Cooperative Extension Auditorium, 801 S. Walker St., Burgaw
- Pender County Annex Building, 15060 U.S. 17, Hampstead
Do I need an ID to vote?
Local residents will be asked to show photo ID when voting. However, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections, voters who do not present an acceptable photo ID can still vote by completing an ID Exception Form explaining why they could not provide one.
Additionally, all county boards of elections can issue free voter photo IDs to registered voters in their county. To get a free voter photo ID card, the voter must provide their name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security number and have their photo taken.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What to know about voting early in the Wilmington area
