North Carolina election officials are considering changes to the voting schedule that could affect how voters cast ballots in upcoming primaries.

Just 10 months before the general election, two candidates for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina are giving a clearer picture of their individual campaigns.

Some election board members cited proximity, logistics, and parking availability as some of the reasons to move away from college campuses.

The proposed 2026 voting plans would affect only the March primaries. But they could indicate strategies to come for the November general election.

With the State Board of Elections now firmly under their control, North Carolina Republicans have set their sights on a longtime target: early voting.

Twelve counties have failed to reach a unanimous agreement on when and where to host early voting for the March primary election.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections approved a plan Tuesday for early voting sites in Guilford County, despite worries about access.

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot online through the NC Absentee Ballot Portal or submit a paper form request to their county board of elections. A near relative or legal guardian can also request an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Absentee voting for North Carolina's 2026 primary elections begins January 12 with a deadline to request ballots by February 17.

According to the board, all absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s county board by 7:30 p.m. by the primary election, which is March 3.

Absentee voting for the 2026 primary election begins Jan. 12, and with it are new rules to ensure votes count. In a news release sent out Thursday, the North Carolina State

Niqab-wearing LaKeshia M. Alston is running as the only Republican for the state Senate’s 22nd district seat — despite being a lifelong Democrat.