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HOW TO VOTE

The November 3, 2026 general election covers everything above the town line. County, state, federal, and three changes to the state constitution. There are no Boone town council or mayor races this year. Those come back in 2027.

Everything here comes from the NC State Board of Elections. Where they have a lookup, we send you to it rather than guess.

No candidates. No endorsements. Just the how.

The dates

  1. Oct 15 Early voting opens
    Same-day registration works at any early-voting site in your county.
     in 16 days
  2. Oct 20 Absentee request deadline
    5pm, to ask for a mail-in ballot.
     in 21 days
  3. Oct 31 Early voting ends
    Last day, sites close at 3pm.
     in 32 days
  4. Nov 3 Election day
    Polls open 6:30am to 7:30pm. In line by 7:30, you vote. Mail ballots due 7:30pm.
     in 35 days

Check these first

Am I registered? → Your registration, your party, and your sample ballot, all in one lookup. Where do I vote Nov 3? → Election day means your assigned precinct. Early voting does not. Vote by mail → Request by Oct 20, 5pm. Your ballot needs a copy of your photo ID.

Early voting sites

Vote at any site in the county you're registered in. Not registered yet? You can register and vote in the same trip here, with proof of where you live.

Watauga County

Asu Student Union
263 Locust St, Boone, NC 28608
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm
Blowing Rock American Legion Building
333 Wallingford St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm
Deep Gap Fire Dept
6583 Old 421 South, Deep Gap, NC 28618
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm
Meat Camp Fire Department
4797 Nc Hwy 194 N, Boone, NC 28607
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm
Watauga County Administration Building
814 W King St, Boone, NC 28607
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm
Western Watauga Comm. Center
1081 Old Us Hwy 421, Sugar Grove, NC 28679
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm

Ashe County

Ashe Agricultural Services Building
134 Government Cir, Jefferson, NC 28640
  • Oct 15–168am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 178am–3pm
  • Oct 19–238am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 248am–3pm
  • Oct 26–308am–7:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm

Avery County

Avery County Pool - The Dive In
220 Shady St, Newland, NC 28657
  • Oct 15–168am–4:30pm
  • Oct 19–238am–4:30pm
  • Oct 26–308am–4:30pm
  • Sat Oct 318am–3pm

Days not listed are closed. Pulled from the State Board's list, last checked Sep 29, 6:35 AM. Look up any county →

Bring a photo ID

A driver's license, state ID, passport, military or veterans ID, or tribal card all work. So do approved college IDs, and App State, Caldwell CC, Wilkes CC and Mayland CC are on the State Board's approved list.

No ID? You still vote. Fill out a Photo ID Exception Form at the site. The full ID rules →

Students

You can vote from your Boone address or your home address. Pick one.

  • Moved dorms or apartments since you last voted? Your registration still has the old one. Update it by Oct 9, or fix it during early voting with same-day registration.
  • Same-day registration needs proof you live here, like a bill, bank statement, or school document showing your name and current address.
  • Election day sends you to one precinct. Early voting lets you use any site in the county, and that's the easy way.

What's on the ballot

Offices on ballots statewide this year. Yours depends on your address, and the registration lookup above shows the exact one.

  • U.S. Senate (one seat)
  • U.S. House
  • N.C. Supreme Court (one associate justice seat)
  • N.C. Court of Appeals (three seats)
  • N.C. Senate and N.C. House
  • Local judges and district attorney
  • Sheriff
  • County commissioners
  • School board

Three constitutional amendments

  • Lower the income-tax rate cap in the state constitution from 7% to 3.5%.
  • Require the legislature to pass laws limiting how much local governments can raise property-tax levies.
  • Extend the constitution's photo ID requirement from in-person voting to every way of voting, mail included.

Each passes with a simple majority.

Questions

Watauga County Board of Elections, 842 W. King St., Suite 6, Boone. 828-265-8061, weekdays 8 to 5. Ashe or Avery? Find your county board →