Twenty North Carolina counties were unable to reach unanimous agreement on their early voting plans for the 2026 General Election. Now, the State Board of Elections will decide. Voters have until August 17 to make their voices heard.

What’s Happening

County boards of elections have completed their early voting plans for the November 3 General Election. While most county boards reached unanimous agreement, 20 counties submitted nonunanimous plans, meaning board members could not agree on a final plan for their county's early voting sites and/or hours.

Under North Carolina law, when a county board cannot unanimously agree on an early voting plan, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) is responsible for adopting the final plan.

The State Board will meet August 20 at 9:00 a.m. to consider the 20 nonunanimous county plans.

Before it does, members of the public have an opportunity to weigh in. Public comments must be submitted by August 17.

Why This Matters

Where and when early voting is available can make a significant difference in voters’ ability to participate.

The League of Women Voters of North Carolina supports early voting plans that provide meaningful, convenient and equitable access for eligible voters. As the State Board considers the disputed plans, we encourage particular attention to proposals that could:

• Reduce the number of early voting sites, requiring voters to travel farther or potentially increasing wait times.
• Eliminate or relocate sites on or near college campuses, making voting less accessible for students.
• Reduce weekend voting, including Sunday voting in communities where voters have come to rely on it.
• Reduce access in growing, rural or historically underserved communities through changes in locations or hours.
• Decrease overall early voting hours, limiting options for working voters, caregivers and others with less flexible schedules.

Early voting plans should reflect the needs of each county’s communities and provide voters with meaningful opportunities to cast their ballots.

Take Action by August 17

1. Find out whether your county has a nonunanimous early voting plan.

2. Review the proposed plans. Pay particular attention to changes in sites, weekend availability, hours and access for communities that rely heavily on early voting.

3. Submit a public comment to the State Board of Elections by August 17. Explain specifically how the proposed plan could affect voters in your community and encourage the State Board to adopt a plan that maximizes voter access.

4. Spread the word. Encourage voters and community organizations in affected counties to participate in the public comment process.

Is your county affected?

The 20 counties with nonunanimous plans are: Alamance, Beaufort, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Craven, Cumberland, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Guilford, Harnett, Henderson, Iredell, Johnston, New Hanover, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pitt, Rowan and Union.

Submit Your Comment

NCSBE Public Comment Portal:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/public-comment-portal-2026-non-unanimous-early-voting-plans

You can also explore the Southern Coalition for Social Justice Early Voting Site Change Map to compare proposed early voting locations with those used in previous elections.

Key Dates

August 6 — NCSBE approved unanimous county early voting plans
August 17 — Deadline for public comments on nonunanimous plans
August 20 at 9:00 a.m. — NCSBE meets to decide the nonunanimous county plans

Your local knowledge matters. Public comments become part of the official record and can help State Board members understand how proposed sites and schedules will affect voters on the ground.

Thank you for speaking up for accessible elections in North Carolina.