2026 WCDP Election Central

The polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm on Election Day.

• Find your Election Day Polling Place
• View Photos of Election Day Polling Places
• Wake County Polling Place Lookup

Voters will now be asked to present a valid photo identification when voting in person. If you do not have a valid photo ID card, you may obtain one from your county board of elections prior to the election, through the end of the early voting period.

If you do not have a valid photo ID card on Election Day, you may still vote and have your vote counted by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment (or “Photo ID Exception Form”) as to why you have not presented a valid photo ID. The Exception Form can also be used if you have a religious objection to being photographed or are a victim of a recently declared natural disaster.

As an alternative, if you don’t have your ID when you vote, you can still vote and then bring your valid photo ID to your county board of elections by noon on the third business day after Election Day.

If you vote by mail, then you must include a photocopy of a valid photo ID when returning your ballot. You may also complete the Absentee Photo ID Exception Form that is provided with your absentee ballot materials.

A list of all types of ID that can be used for voting is available on the State Board of Elections Voter ID webpage. For information on how to get a free ID, see Get a Free Voter Photo ID.

The deadline to register to vote is 25 days prior to each election.

This deadline also applies to party changes/updates prior to a partisan primary.

The deadline remains in place if a second primary or runoff election is called, and no new registrations or party changes may be processed until after the second primary or runoff election.

When you enter the polling place, you will begin at a station where precinct officials look up your name in the pollbooks to make sure you are registered to vote. You will be required to verbally state your name and present an acceptable form of photo identification to the precinct official. Then, you will be asked to state your current address (and party affiliation if it is a partisan primary). The precinct official will verify that you are registered to vote at the address stated.

After confirming this information, the precinct official will issue a form that you will take to a second station. At this station, you will exchange the form for a ballot. The ballot will contain contests that match the jurisdictions of your residence address.

You will carry your ballot to a voting booth and mark your choices by filling in bubbles with the ink pen provided. Precinct officials will be available to assist you if you have questions.

After marking your ballot, you will place it into an optical scanner. The machine will read and count your choices, then it will store your ballot in a locked bin under the scanner.

No. Hand-delivered absentee ballots, sealed in the container envelope with the application and witness portions completed, must be submitted to the Wake County Board of Elections Office and must be received by the 7:30 pm deadline on or before Election Day.

You can find information about the voting machines and software used in Wake County here.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections also has an overview of all voting systems used in North Carolina here.

On Election Day, you vote in your assigned precinct in order to make sure you receive a ballot that contains all races for which you are eligible to vote. If you do not vote in your correct precinct on Election Day, you must vote a provisional ballot.

Yes. If you have moved and do not update your address before the voter registration deadline, you will not be listed in the Poll Book at your new polling place.

If you plan to vote on Election Day, It is important to complete and submit a voter registration application before the election’s registration deadline.

If you plan to vote at an early voting location, you may update your address and vote at the same time.

Curbside voting is offered at all Wake County polling places. To be eligible for curbside voting, you must be unable to enter the polling place due to age or physical disability. Look for the parking spaces near the polling place entrance labeled “Curbside Voting.” Poll workers monitor the parking area throughout the day and will walk to your car when you park in one of the designated spaces.