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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.

The dates, sites and rules here come from the NC State Board of Elections. Where they have a lookup, we send you to it rather than guess.

Every candidate, equal billing. No endorsements.
Live map
Every county.
One map.

Pick a race and watch North Carolina fill in, county by county, straight from the State Board of Elections. Tallies only, no race calls.

Open the full map →
Early voting final
25,990
early votes cast in person across the High Country
926 mail ballots returned so far, counted separately
Watauga 16,189 early in person 625 by mail 36% of registered voters
votesturnout
Unaffiliated44%33%
Democrat32%49%
Republican23%30%
16,189 through voting day 13, vs 13,166 at the same point in 2022 (+23%).
Registered Democrats cast 44% of the ballots on Oct 15 and 25% on Oct 31. Republicans cast 14% and 31%.
Party by day
DemRepUnaff
Oct 15 (1,505)44%14%42%
Oct 16 (1,253)39%16%45%
Oct 19 (1,312)36%19%45%
Oct 20 (1,122)36%21%42%
Oct 21 (1,140)33%22%45%
Oct 22 (961)35%25%40%
Oct 23 (1,008)30%25%45%
Oct 26 (1,210)28%27%44%
Oct 27 (1,206)32%24%44%
Oct 28 (1,272)29%24%46%
Oct 29 (1,345)29%26%45%
Oct 30 (1,721)27%26%46%
Oct 31 (1,132)25%31%43%
votes
ASU Student Union5,026
Watauga County Administration Building4,054
Deep Gap Fire Department2,221
Blowing Rock American Legion Building2,043
Western Watauga Community Center1,752
Meat Camp Fire Department1,093
Ashe 6,731 early in person 205 by mail 32% of registered voters
votesturnout
Republican42%29%
Unaffiliated36%31%
Democrat22%45%
6,731 through voting day 15, vs 5,450 at the same point in 2022 (+24%).
Registered Democrats cast 32% of the ballots on Oct 15 and 14% on Oct 31. Republicans cast 32% and 48%.
Party by day
DemRepUnaff
Oct 15 (500)32%32%36%
Oct 16 (494)26%34%40%
Oct 17 (190)29%34%36%
Oct 19 (488)24%40%36%
Oct 20 (501)23%36%41%
Oct 21 (473)28%41%31%
Oct 22 (415)21%46%32%
Oct 23 (478)23%37%40%
Oct 24 (224)20%43%37%
Oct 26 (436)19%47%34%
Oct 27 (496)19%45%36%
Oct 28 (493)18%49%33%
Oct 29 (487)21%39%40%
Oct 30 (591)16%49%34%
Oct 31 (465)14%48%38%
votes
Ashe Agricultural Services Building6,731
Avery 3,070 early in person 96 by mail 25% of registered voters
votesturnout
Republican50%22%
Unaffiliated36%26%
Democrat14%39%
3,070 through voting day 13, vs 2,042 at the same point in 2022 (+50%).
Registered Democrats cast 23% of the ballots on Oct 15 and 10% on Oct 31. Republicans cast 35% and 51%.
Party by day
DemRepUnaff
Oct 15 (239)23%35%41%
Oct 16 (251)21%43%36%
Oct 19 (227)22%39%39%
Oct 20 (251)15%52%33%
Oct 21 (191)10%49%40%
Oct 22 (230)16%49%35%
Oct 23 (216)12%58%31%
Oct 26 (226)11%55%34%
Oct 27 (252)13%51%35%
Oct 28 (213)14%51%35%
Oct 29 (253)11%56%33%
Oct 30 (301)10%57%33%
Oct 31 (220)10%51%38%
votes
Avery County Pool - The Dive In3,070
Final in-person count. Last update Nov 13, 4:57 AM.
How these numbers work The State Board last updated its file Nov 13, 4:41 AM, and we last checked Nov 13, 4:57 AM. Party is each voter's registered party, per the State Board file. Turnout is that party's early votes divided by its registered voters (active and inactive) in the State Board voter file of Nov 8, so it runs a little low as people register during early voting. Site counts and the 2022 comparison come from the State Board's voter-level file (a voting day is a day with real early voting, so weekends with no sites open are skipped, and 2022 is lined up day for day); sites count voters registered in that county. The county's own tally can run slightly ahead. Mail ballots are counted separately and keep arriving until the polls close.

The dates

  1. Oct 9 Registration deadline
    5pm. After this, you can still register during early voting.
     passed
  2. Oct 15 Early voting opens
    Same-day registration works at any early-voting site in your county.
     passed
  3. Oct 20 Absentee request deadline
    5pm, to ask for a mail-in ballot.
     passed
  4. Oct 31 Early voting ends
    Last day, sites close at 3pm. Same-day registration ends too. It is not available on Election Day for most voters.
     passed
  5. Nov 3 Election day
    Polls open 6:30am to 7:30pm. In line by 7:30, you vote. Mail ballots due 7:30pm.
     passed

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 → Ballots started going out Sept 4, so ask early. 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 Nov 2, 7:24 PM. Look up any county →

Who's running

The Watauga Democrat sent every candidate in these races the same questions, with answers capped at 250 words. We list who's on the ballot (from the State Board's candidate list) and send you to their reporting for what each one said. Read the answers there, not our summary of them.

U.S. House, District 5
Covers Watauga and Ashe, with eight other counties
  • Virginia FoxxRepublican
  • Chuck HubbardDemocrat
  • Robert B. LuffmanLibertarian
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
N.C. Senate, District 47
Covers all of Watauga, Ashe and Avery
  • Ralph HiseRepublican
  • Frank Patton Hughes IIIDemocrat
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
N.C. House, District 87
Covers part of Watauga (the rest of the district is Caldwell County)
  • Iris BenderDemocrat
  • Destin HallRepublican
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
N.C. House, District 93
Covers most of Watauga and all of Ashe
  • Ray PickettRepublican
  • Charlie WallinDemocrat
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
District Court Judge, District 35, Seat 1
Covers all of Watauga and Avery
  • Andrew BrooksDemocrat
  • Eric F. EllerRepublican
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →

Also on your county ballot

Names only, straight from the State Board's candidate list. Some races elect more than one person, and your sample ballot in the registration lookup above says how many to pick.

Watauga County 9 races
Sheriff
  • Darin ChurchRepublican
  • Len (LD) Hagaman, Jr.Democrat
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
County commissioner, District 1
  • Adam HegeDemocrat
  • Rick WoodsRepublican
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
County commissioner, District 2
  • Savva KostisRepublican
  • Ray RussellDemocrat
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
Clerk of Superior Court
  • Holly FehlDemocrat
  • Charles M. HaynesRepublican
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
School board, District 1
  • Yolanda Adams
  • Ellen Lamont
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
School board, District 4
  • Chad Cole
  • Megan (Chayyim) Kornhauser
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
Soil and water conservation supervisor Vote for 2
  • Aaron Grig
  • David Scott
  • David Williams
Their answers, from the Watauga Democrat →
Superior Court Judge, District 35, Seat 1 Unopposed
  • Matthew RuppRepublican
District attorney, District 35 Unopposed
  • Seth BanksRepublican
Ashe County 10 races
Sheriff Unopposed
  • B. Phil HowellRepublican
County commissioner Vote for 3
  • Leslie ColvardDemocrat
  • Mike EldrethRepublican
  • Todd A. McNeillRepublican
  • Jerry D. PowersRepublican
  • Caroline RenfroDemocrat
Clerk of Superior Court Unopposed
  • Sherman M. LeeRepublican
Register of deeds Unopposed
  • Beth M. BrookeRepublican
School board Vote for 3
  • Dianne EldrethRepublican
  • Shane E. LittleRepublican
  • Jamie McNeillDemocrat
  • Janet WardRepublican
New River soil and water conservation supervisor Vote for 2 Unopposed
  • Ryan Huffman
  • Terry Munday
District Court Judge, District 34, Seat 1 Unopposed
  • Robert (Rob) CrumptonRepublican
District Court Judge, District 34, Seat 2 Unopposed
  • Andrew WarrenRepublican
District Court Judge, District 34, Seat 3 Unopposed
  • Laura Byrd LuffmanRepublican
District attorney, District 34 Unopposed
  • Lee Boone BollingerRepublican
Avery County 9 races
Sheriff Unopposed
  • Mike HenleyRepublican
U.S. House, District 11
  • Jamie AgerDemocrat
  • Jennifer Capps BalkcomRepublican
  • Travis GrooLibertarian
N.C. House, District 85
  • Suzanne GavenusDemocrat
  • Dudley GreeneRepublican
County commissioner Vote for 3 Unopposed
  • Dennis AldridgeRepublican
  • Robert BurlesonRepublican
  • Jason GrindstaffRepublican
School board Vote for 2
  • Coleman Bailey
  • Patricia (Pat) Edwards
  • Lan Holtsclaw
  • Trey Oakley
  • Randy Singleton
Clerk of Superior Court
  • Teresa I. BenfieldRepublican
  • Susannah McCoury DibbleUnaffiliated
Soil and water conservation supervisor Vote for 2 Unopposed
  • Bill Beuttell
  • Brad Smith
Superior Court Judge, District 35, Seat 1 Unopposed
  • Matthew RuppRepublican
District attorney, District 35 Unopposed
  • Seth BanksRepublican

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. At App State, a physical AppCard printed on or after Aug. 10, 2023 works. The mobile one doesn't, and an older card may not. Students, faculty and staff can get a voter ID by emailing appcardoffice@appstate.edu or asking at the AppCard office.

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

  • Extend the constitution's photo ID requirement from in-person voting to every way of voting, mail included.
  • 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.

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 →

Trouble at the polls? Turned away, stuck in line, or told something that sounds wrong? Call or text Election Protection, a nonpartisan voter hotline, at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). En español, 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682).