Deadline for voter registration and updates is Feb. 6 by 5:00 p.m.
The Wake County Board of Elections is reminding residents that the voter registration deadline for the 2026 Primary Election is Friday, Feb. 6. Anyone wishing to make their voice heard in the upcoming March 3 Primary should check their voter registration online now to ensure it is current.
“With many voters moving and experiencing changes year to year, it’s always important to verify your voter registration,” said Wake County Board of Elections Director Olivia McCall. “Making sure your information is up to date only takes a few minutes and helps ensure you’re ready to vote.”
Eligible voters can register or update their voter information by completing a one-page form. The completed and signed form must be:
- Postmarked by Feb. 6 and mailed to Wake County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602;
- Delivered in person to the Wake County Board of Elections Office at 1200 N. New Hope Road in Raleigh by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6;
- Printed and signed, scanned or photographed, and emailed to voter@wake.gov by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6;
- Faxed to 919-231-5737 by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6; or
- Submitted at any Wake County Public Library (or other approved agency) by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6.
Voters with a valid North Carolina Driver License or identification card from the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles may also register to vote or update their information online through the myNCDMV website. This is a free and standalone service of the DMV.
Voters who want to change their party affiliation before this year’s primary election must also do so by Friday, Feb. 6. North Carolina recognizes four political parties: the Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and the Republican Party.
In a partisan primary, voters affiliated with a political party may only vote their party’s ballot and may not vote in another party’s primary. This remains true even if the party you are affiliated with does not have a primary, such as the Libertarian Party and the Green Party in 2026. Unaffiliated voters will be able to choose either a Democratic or Republican primary ballot. Voters can view the candidate lists and see sample ballots at wake.gov/upcomingelection.
Due to an ordinance adopted in May 2024, the City of Raleigh will now conduct its municipal elections using the nonpartisan primary and election method. All eligible voters who live within the corporate limits of Raleigh may participate in the nonpartisan primary on March 3, 2026, regardless of party affiliation, and these candidates will appear on the ballot without party affiliation listed.
Any eligible 17-year-old residents who will turn 18 on or before Nov. 3, 2026, may also register now and vote in the upcoming March 3 Primary.
For more information on upcoming elections and voting, visit ReadyToVote.com.
About Wake County Board of Elections
The Wake County Board of Elections is responsible for conducting all elections held in the county. The board establishes election precincts and voting sites; appoints and trains precinct officials; prepares and distributes ballots and voting equipment; certifies ballots cast in elections and investigates any voting irregularities.
The Wake County Board of Elections also maintains voter registration and voting records for more than 845,000 voters. To learn more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X, or contact us at 919-404-4040.
