Early voting in Wake County runs Oct. 15-31, 2026, with two Cary sites and same-day registration. Election Day is Nov. 3. Call 919-404-4040.

Last checked Oct. 22, 2026. Updated before every election. All facts come from the Wake County Board of Elections and the N.C. State Board of Elections. This page does not endorse any candidate or position.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 15. The Wake County Board of Elections runs elections for Cary voters who live in Wake County. Cary residents in Chatham County vote through the Chatham County Board of Elections; check your county and polling place in the state’s voter lookup.

Who to call

  • Wake County Board of Elections: 919-404-4040, voter@wake.gov
  • Absentee ballots: absentee@wake.gov
  • Office: Board of Elections Operations Center, 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
  • Your registration, polling place and sample ballot: the state’s voter lookup

Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026

Date What
Oct. 9 (passed) Regular registration deadline
Thursday, Oct. 15 Early voting begins; same-day registration opens at early voting sites
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5 p.m. Deadline to request an absentee ballot
Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. Early voting ends
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Election Day; polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received

Dates come from the county’s early voting page and absentee voting page.

Early voting in and near Cary

Updated Oct. 22: Turnout is running well ahead of the last midterm. Wake County passed 100,000 early votes on Tuesday, Oct. 20, six days into the 17-day early voting period. That is more than 75% higher than the same six days in 2022, the county said Oct. 21. The county said the final two to three days before early voting ends Saturday, Oct. 31, are usually the busiest, so voting sooner is likely to mean a shorter line.

Updated Oct. 15: Early voting is open. Wake County has 18 early voting sites, the most it has offered for a midterm general election, according to the county’s Oct. 14 announcement. The county’s live wait-time tracker shows the line at each site. The county said waits are usually shortest in the first week and longest at weekday lunchtimes and in the final days.

You can vote at any early voting site in Wake County. Hours at every site:

  • Weekdays, Oct. 15-16, 19-23 and 26-30: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25: 1 to 6 p.m.
Site Address
Cary Senior Center 120 Maury Odell Place, Cary
Herbert C. Young Community Center 101 Wilkinson Ave., Cary
John M. Brown Community Center 53 Hunter St., Apex
NCSU Western Boulevard Business Services 1220 Varsity Drive, Raleigh
Laurel Hills Community Center 3808 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh

The full countywide list, with a site map for each location, is on the county’s early voting page. Eligible people who missed the Oct. 9 deadline can register and vote at the same visit during early voting.

Election Day

Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct; at the wrong one you vote a provisional ballot. Curbside voting is offered at every Wake County polling place for voters who cannot go inside because of age or a disability, according to the county’s Election Day page.

Photo ID

North Carolina asks in-person voters to show a valid photo ID; the accepted list is on the state’s voter ID page. Without one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment, or vote provisionally and bring an ID to the board of elections by noon on the third business day after the election. Mail voters include a photocopy of a valid photo ID.

Voting by mail

Request a ballot through the state’s absentee request portal or the county’s paper form by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Return the sealed ballot with the witness section completed and a copy of your ID. It must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, by mail to Wake County Board of Elections, Attn: Absentee, P.O. Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602, or by hand at 1200 N. New Hope Road. Drop boxes are not allowed.

What is on the ballot in Cary

The county’s candidate list for Nov. 3 includes, depending on where you live:

  • U.S. Senate and U.S. House
  • N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals seats, and state Senate and House districts
  • Wake County Board of Commissioners, Board of Education districts, sheriff, clerk of superior court and district attorney
  • A $680 million Wake County school bond referendum (see our schools guide)

There are no Town of Cary races on the 2026 list. Your exact ballot is in the state’s voter lookup and the county’s sample ballot key.

What this means for you

  • Missed the registration deadline? Go to an early voting site by Oct. 31.
  • Bring a photo ID, or be ready to sign the affidavit.
  • Mail voters: request by Oct. 20 and return it in person if time is short.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I vote early in Cary?

Wake County’s early voting sites in Cary are the Cary Senior Center, 120 Maury Odell Place, and the Herbert C. Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave. You can use any early voting site in the county.

When is early voting in Wake County?

Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Can I still register to vote in Wake County?

The regular deadline was Oct. 9, 2026, but eligible people can register and vote at the same visit at any early voting site from Oct. 15 to 31.

Is the Cary Town Council on the ballot in 2026?

No. The Wake County candidate list for Nov. 3, 2026, has no Town of Cary races. Cary voters will see federal, state, judicial and county races and the $680 million school bond.