Twelve sites available to Wake County voters Feb. 12 through Feb. 28
Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election begins Thursday, Feb. 12, at 8 a.m. at 12 early voting locations across Wake County. Eligible voters may cast their ballot at any early voting site in the county through Saturday, Feb. 28. A full list of locations, daily hours and bus routes, along with an interactive map, live wait times and information about same-day registration, are available at WakeVotesEarly.com.
“We encourage voters to take full advantage of early voting so they can choose the time and location that works best for them,” said Wake County Board of Elections Director Olivia McCall. “With 12 early voting sites, the most ever offered for a midterm primary in Wake County, along with convenient voting hours, same-day registration, and a live online wait-time tracker, voting early allows voters to plan ahead and vote on the schedule that works best for them.”
Eligible voters who missed the voter registration deadline may still register and vote in person during early voting. Same-day registration is available at all early voting sites. Voters using same-day registration must bring acceptable proof of their current residence and complete a voter registration form at the site. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day.
All early voting sites will be open during the following hours from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28:
- Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sundays – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Voters looking to avoid lines are encouraged to plan ahead and use the early voting wait time tracker. Historically, wait times are shortest during the first week of early voting, while the busiest periods tend to be around lunchtime on weekdays and during the final days of the 17-day period.
There are 12 early voting locations in Wake County for the 2026 Primary Election:
- Avery Street Recreation Center (Site Details)
125 Avery St., Garner 27529 - Herbert C. Young Community Center (Site Details)
101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary 27513 - Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse (Site Details)
4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina 27526 - John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center (Site Details)
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh 27601 - John M. Brown Community Center (Site Details)
53 Hunter St., Apex 27502 - Lake Lynn Community Center (Site Details)
7921 Ray Road, Raleigh 27613 - NCSU Talley Student Union (Site Details)
2411 Dunn Ave., Raleigh 27607 - Northern Regional Center (Site Details)
350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest 27587 - Optimist Park Community Center (Site Details)
5900 Whittier Drive, Raleigh 27609 - Wake County Board of Elections Office (Site Details)
1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh 27610 - W.E. Hunt Recreation Center (Site Details)
301 Stinson Ave., Holly Springs 27540 - Wendell Community Center (Site Details)
601 W. 3rd St., Wendell 27591
Absentee Voting Information
Registered voters who prefer an alternative to voting in person may request an absentee ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the 2026 Primary Election is 5 p.m. on Feb. 17. Completed civilian absentee ballots must be received by the Wake County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, March 3, to be counted.
During the early voting period, completed, sealed absentee ballots may be returned at an early voting site by the voter, their near-relative or legal guardian, or someone assisting the voter due to disability. Drop boxes are not permitted by N.C. law.
Primary Election Information
In a partisan primary, voters affiliated with a political party may only vote that party’s ballot. Unaffiliated voters may choose either a Democratic or Republican primary ballot. Candidate lists and sample ballots are available at wake.gov/upcomingelection.
Any eligible 17-year-old residents who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 3, 2026, may also vote in the March 3 Primary.
For more information, visit ReadyToVote.com.
About Wake County Board of Elections
The Wake County Board of Elections conducts all elections in the county and maintains voter registration and voting records for more than 845,000 voters. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X, or contact us at 919-404-4040.
