Early voting in Wake County runs Oct. 15-31, 2026, at Joyner Park Community Center and 17 other sites, with same-day registration. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated before every election. All facts come from the Wake County Board of Elections, Franklin County and the N.C. State Board of Elections. This page does not endorse any candidate or position.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 15. The Wake County Board of Elections runs elections for Wake Forest voters who live in Wake County. Residents of the Franklin County part of town vote through Franklin County; check your county and polling place in the state’s voter lookup.
Who to call
- Wake County Board of Elections: 919-404-4040, voter@wake.gov
- Absentee ballots: absentee@wake.gov
- Office: Board of Elections Operations Center, 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
- Your registration, polling place and sample ballot: the state’s voter lookup
- Wait times at Wake early voting sites: WakeVotesEarly.com
Key dates for Nov. 3, 2026
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Oct. 9 (passed) | Regular registration deadline |
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | Early voting begins; same-day registration opens at early voting sites |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20, 5 p.m. | Deadline to request an absentee ballot |
| Saturday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m. | Early voting ends |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | Election Day; polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. | Absentee ballots must be received |
Dates come from the county’s early voting page and absentee voting page.
Early voting in Wake Forest
Wake County picked Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, as one of 18 early voting sites, the town says. You can vote at any Wake County site. Hours at every site:
- Weekdays, Oct. 15-16, 19-23 and 26-30: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25: 1 to 6 p.m.
Lines are usually shortest on the first days, the county says, and busiest at weekday lunchtime, 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays and the last three days. Go Wake Forest, the town’s on-demand shuttle, gives fare-free rides to and from the Joyner Park site during early voting; book in its app or at 984-342-2319, according to the town. Nearby Wake sites include Abbotts Creek Community Center in North Raleigh and Knightdale Recreation Center, 102 Lawson Ridge Road. The full list, with a site map for each, is on the county’s early voting page.
Eligible people who missed the Oct. 9 deadline can register and vote at the same visit during early voting.
Franklin County voters have four early voting sites, the nearest the Youngsville Armory, 124 Youngsville Blvd. S., open 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays Oct. 15-30 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, according to the county’s election notice.
Election Day
Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct; at the wrong one you vote a provisional ballot. Curbside voting is offered at every Wake County polling place for voters who cannot go inside because of age or a disability, according to the county’s Election Day page.
Photo ID
North Carolina asks in-person voters to show a valid photo ID; the accepted list is on the state’s voter ID page. Without one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment, or vote provisionally and bring an ID to the board of elections by noon on the third business day after the election. Mail voters include a photocopy of a valid photo ID.
Voting by mail
Request a ballot through the state’s absentee request portal or the county’s paper form by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. Return the sealed ballot with the witness section completed and a copy of your ID. It must arrive by 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3, by mail to Wake County Board of Elections, Attn: Absentee, P.O. Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602, or by hand at 1200 N. New Hope Road. Drop boxes are not allowed.
What is on the ballot in Wake Forest
The county’s candidate list for Nov. 3 includes, depending on where you live:
- U.S. Senate and U.S. House
- N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals seats, and state Senate and House districts
- Wake County Board of Commissioners, Board of Education districts, sheriff, clerk of superior court and district attorney
- A $680 million Wake County school bond referendum (see our schools guide)
There are no Town of Wake Forest races on the 2026 list; current terms for the mayor and commissioners end in 2027 and 2029, according to the town. Your exact ballot is in the state’s voter lookup and the county’s sample ballot key.
What this means for you
- Missed the registration deadline? Go to an early voting site by Oct. 31.
- The Joyner Park Community Center gym and track are closed through Nov. 2 for voting.
- Bring a photo ID, or be ready to sign the affidavit.
- Mail voters: request by Oct. 20 and return it in person if time is short.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I vote early in Wake Forest?
Wake County’s early voting site in Wake Forest is Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. Any Wake County voter can use it or any of the county’s other 17 early voting sites.
When is early voting in Wake County?
Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Can I still register to vote in Wake County?
The regular deadline was Oct. 9, 2026, but eligible people can register and vote at the same visit at any early voting site from Oct. 15 to 31.
Is the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners on the ballot in 2026?
No. Wake County’s candidate list for Nov. 3, 2026, has no Town of Wake Forest races. Voters will see federal, state, judicial and county races and the $680 million school bond.
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