In-person early voting for the 2026 primary election begins Thursday and ends at 3 p.m. Feb. 28.
Statewide, 319 early voting sites will open in the primary, when voters will select candidates to move on to the general election ballot in November. Early voting sites in Columbus County include the Chadbourn Municipal Annex; Fair Bluff Fire Department; Tabor City Courthouse; Ransom Center; and Columbus County Board of Elections office.
Any registered voter may cast a ballot at any of the early polls. On Primary and Election Days, voters must go to their home precincts.
Early voting has grown in popularity with both primary and general election voters, according to state voting data. In 2022, 59 percent of primary voters cast ballots on Election Day, 39 percent voted during the early voting period, and 2 percent voted by mail.
The March primary is for party nominations for the Nov. 3 general election. Only registered members of political parties and unaffiliated voters who request a party ballot may vote. In Columbus County, several races will be decided in the primaries, since no Democrats signed up to run. Among those races are the Republican nominations for sheriff, clerk of court, and District Attorney. Uncontested race nominees will still be required to be on the November ballot.
Individuals who missed the regular voter registration deadline on February 6 may register and vote at the same time during the early voting period. Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live by showing a driver’s license or other government document, paycheck, utility bill, or bank statement that has their current name and residence address on it. For more information, visit Register in Person During Early Voting.
After lengthy litigation in the state courts, voters will be asked for the first time this year to show photo ID when they check in to vote. A driver’s license is most common, but many other forms of photo ID will be accepted.
