North Carolina's 100 county boards of elections began sending absentee ballots this weekend, marking the official start of voting in the 2026 general election. The State Board of Elections confirmed the launch, with the state again among the first in the nation to open balloting.

The rollout followed a Friday deadline requiring counties to dispatch ballots to voters who had requested them. Voters can still submit requests online and by mail, though statutory deadlines are set ahead of the November 3 election day.

The voting period has unfolded against a backdrop of continuing partisan disputes over election administration. Republicans, who control the General Assembly, have pressed changes to absentee-ballot receipt deadlines and voter identification enforcement, while Democratic officials and voting-rights groups have challenged several provisions in court.

North Carolina's early start carries outsized national significance because the state hosts competitive races for the U.S. House and closely watched down-ballot contests. Both national parties have poured resources into the state, treating its absentee returns as an early signal of turnout enthusiasm heading into the midterms.

Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections in past cycles, urged voters to return ballots promptly. County officials echoed that guidance as mailing began this weekend.