Early voting for the 2026 Primary Election begins on Thursday, Feb. 12, and continues through Saturday, Feb. 28.
Early voting will be conducted in two locations and you can vote in either one:
• Robert Carpenter Community Building, 1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin
• Highlands Civic Center, 600 N. 4th St.
Hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 3. On that day you must vote at your precinct. Poll hours on Election Day are 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 17, is the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
In the Primary Election you must vote the ballot for the party you are registered with, Democrat or Republican. People registered as unaffiliated may choose to vote Democratic or Republican, but not both.
Voters are required to show identification when voting. If you do not have a photo ID, you can obtain a free Voter ID card from the Board of Elections. ID cards also can be made at the Department of Motor Vehicles drivers license office.
The county canvass to certify the election will be Friday, March 11, at 11 a.m. in the Board of Elections Office on the first floor of the Macon County Courthouse.
If you have questions about voting, contact the Macon County Board of Elections at 828-349-2034 or visit the website, maconnc.org/board-of-elections.
Ballots
Most local races will be on the Republican ballot as the Democratic candidates for the Macon County Board of Elections will be on the November ballot.
District 1 has three candidates (you may vote for one): Joey Wilson, Don Willis and incumbent John Shearl.
Two seats are open in the District 2 race and there are five candidates on the ballot: David B. Culpepper, Dylan Castle, Kellie McConnell Burns, Danny Reitmeier and Nick Lofthouse. Reitmeier has withdrawn from the race, but his name will still be on the ballot as he withdrew after the deadline. You may vote for two candidates in the District 2 race.
Early Voting could determine the Macon County sheriff’s race as only Republican candidates filed to run. Incumbent Sheriff Brent Holbrooks faces challenger Bob Cook in the primary.
In addition to the local races, the Republican ballot will include the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1 races.
The Democratic ballot will include the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and N.C. Court of Appeals Seat 3 races.
The Franklin Press will publish a Voters Guide on Feb. 18 that will include interviews with the county commissioner and sheriff candidates as well as sample ballots.