Bookmark our MANUAL FOR THE MIDTERMS: Your One-Stop-Shop for 2026 Election Info
- 17 hours ago
- 11 min read
This year, two of the most important races in the country will be on our ballot right here in Henderson County.
Our votes will help determine the balance of power in both the US Senate and House of Representatives.
Locally, we can also improve the quality of life for hard-working families in our own communities by voting in every race.
If you’re reading this, you probably realize the tremendous importance of this election. Please help us encourage everyone to register and vote!
Scroll down to read:
· 3 Ways to Vote in North Carolina, with Pros & Cons for each
· The Stakes of the 2026 Election
· Important Changes in NC Voting Laws
· A Judicial Race Pop Quiz!
· Election Calendar
· How to Register to Vote
· Overviews of Early In-Person Voting, Voting by Mail, & Election Day Voting
· User-Friendly Voter Resources to Keep on Hand
NOTE: This is a long document: Please use subheadings to find what you need quickly. We will be amending and reorganizing as election season progresses, so bookmark and check back often. And if there is a topic we have not covered, feel free to email us at info@myhcdp.com
LEARN THE PROS & CONS OF NORTH CAROLINA’S 3 VOTING OPTIONS
North Carolina offers three ways to vote.
All are valid options, but each has distinct pros and cons that everyone should consider.
NOTE: A photo ID is required to vote. This is true no matter how, when, or where you vote.
1. IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING
Henderson County voters may vote early in person from October 15 to October 31 at locations and times that will be announced over the summer. A photo ID is required. Because there are many advantages to In-Person Early Voting, we recommend using this option if possible.
THE PROS:
You can choose the most convenient day to vote, including some Saturday options; lines are often short due to multiple voting days; you can correct voter registration problems; you do not have to worry about showing up at the wrong precinct; if you missed the cutoff for registering to vote, Early Voting gives you one more chance since you may register and vote on the same day during Early Voting; and finally, you can go to the polls with friends and family from different precincts to have moral support and create a fun group experience. This is great for first-time voters, so think about reaching out to someone!
THE CONS:
You do have to make a trip to a voting location, which may be farther from home than your precinct. That last day of Early Voting can sneak up on you because it doesn’t get as much attention as Election Day. That’s about it.
2. VOTING BY MAIL, ALSO KNOWN AS ABSENTEE VOTING
Beginning September 4, a voter may contact the Henderson County Board of Elections and request an absentee ballot, which is mailed to their home or a temporary address to be filled out & returned.
THE PROS:
Voting by mail can be done at any time of day; the time frame for voting by mail is generous; voters can do research at their own pace as they go down the ballot, taking their time as needed; and voters can avoid making a trip to the polls.
THE CONS:
North Carolina’s vote-by-mail directions are relatively complicated and must be followed exactly; two witnesses or a notary are required to sign the ballot; extra postage is required; the ballot must be received by Election Day—no excuses will be accepted; the US Postal Service has been affected by federal cuts, making delays much more common than in the past; a copy of an acceptable photo ID must be attached or an exception form must be completed. HCDP is aware of several experienced voters whose absentee ballots were not counted; therefore, if you use the vote-by-mail option, we recommend doing so as early as possible and tracking your ballot to make sure it is safely received and valid through Ballot Trax.
3. IN-PERSON VOTING ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3
On Election Day, voters may vote only at their assigned precinct, which is located close to their primary residence. A photo ID is required to vote.
THE PROS:
Sometimes new information about candidates comes out after early voting. Also, many voters enjoy the excitement and tradition of voting on Election Day itself.
THE CONS:
Voting on Election Day is the LAST CHANCE to vote. If a voter has a problem, such as an expired ID or showing up at the wrong precinct, there is not a good way to correct the issue; if a family or work emergency comes up and you don’t make it to the polls in time, you lose your chance to vote; if there is a problem at the precinct, you could have to wait a long time for it to be resolved; if the weather is terrible or you’re feeling bad, you cannot wait for a better day.
THE STAKES
How important is our home state of North Carolina in the 2026 election?
Here are some frequently heard observations:
· North Carolina is “the first domino” in defeating MAGA control.
· North Carolina has become a “must win” state.
· North Carolina is “the most purple of purple states.”
Like it or not, North Carolina is Ground Zero. On one hand, this means we will have to endure a deluge of negative ads, money requests, media attention and other annoyances that could make anyone want to hibernate until December.
But on the other hand, our votes undeniably matter a great deal.
What an enormous privilege is that?
Henderson County Voters will vote in:
· One of the most competitive Senate races in the country, a race that could change the balance of power in the nation.
· A critical NC Supreme Court race that could pave the way for taking back our state’s highest court.
· A US Congressional race that we have a realistic chance to flip for the first time since 2012.
· NC House and NC Senate races that could help shift the balance of power in Raleigh and reduce harmful legislation.
· Local races that will determine the nature of leadership in Henderson County, from the school board to municipal races.
While Trump and MAGA are terribly unpopular, the truth is that they could still win. This is partly because of extreme changes in election laws that make it harder to vote. Everyone who wants to stop the chaos—Democrats, unaffiliated voters and even non-MAGA conservatives who used to vote Republican—must turn out in numbers too big to deny. Hungary did it and so can we.
CHANGES IN NC VOTING LAWS
Voting in NC is more difficult this year due to recent and proposed changes to voting laws—don’t let anti-democratic special interest groups win.
As North Carolina becomes more important electorally, MAGA lawmakers have made several changes to voting laws, including the following:
· Several polling places on college campuses have been closed—tell the college students in your life to make a voting plan now.
· Absentee ballots must now be received by 7:30 pm on Election Day, November 3. Postmark does not matter; there is no grace period.
· Absentee ballots must now have signatures from two witnesses or a notary.
· Absentee ballots must now include a copy of a photo ID or an exception form.
More importantly, there are several proposed changes still to be determined. From Common Cause: “One such measure in the state Senate would reduce the state’s early voting period from 17 days to 10 despite the enormous bipartisan popularity of the current system. In addition, a series of proposals at the GOP-controlled state Board of Elections would make it easier to both toss out provisional ballots and mailed ballots on technicalities and restrict nondisruptive demonstrations designed to get voters to the polls.”
In mid-June, Republicans also introduced an omnibus bill with even more extreme voting restrictions, including a ban on voter engagement efforts, increased power for the Republican State Auditor, and more.
The overreach has gone so far that Republican members of one county board of election are protesting the pressure to change polling locations to depress the college vote!
POP QUIZ: JUDICIAL RACES
(Scroll to End for Answers)
True or False: In May, all five of the GOP members of the NC Supreme Court voted to allow Duke to raise your energy bill by 18 percent while the two Democrats dissented.
What happened when the GOP gained control of the NC Supreme Court in 2023 and quickly made an unprecedented reversal decision about gerrymandering?
How many of the 15 judges on the NC Court of Appeals are Republican?
Why does it matter that courts in Texas and other Southern states have allowed draconian restrictions on reproductive healthcare that have resulted in pregnant women dying?
Do you know the names of the candidates running for NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals?
ELECTION CALENDAR:
Sept. 4: Vote-by-Mail begins: ballots may be requested and must be available to military and overseas voters. For more, see the state’s Vote by Mail page.
Oct. 9: Voter registration deadline. (Note: those who miss this deadline may use same-day registration at early voting sites during early voting to register and vote at the same time.)
Oct. 15: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available; locations and schedule will be announced over the summer.
Oct. 20: Deadline to request an absentee ballot is at 5 pm.
Oct. 31: In-person early voting ends at 3 pm.
Nov. 3: Election Day! Voters must vote at their home precinct. Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Deadline for absentee ballots to be returned is also 7:30 pm—NOT POSTMARKED BUT ACTUALLY RECEIVED at the Board of Elections.
HOW TO: REGISTERING TO VOTE AND CHECKING YOUR REGISTRATION
To register, follow the instructions at this link. The deadline to register to vote is 25 days before Election Day but you may register and vote the same day during Early Voting.
Even if you are a long-time voter, please check your registration regularly to make sure there are no problems. You may do that right now, right here.
The county board of elections staff are helpful as are the local League of Women Voters, who specialize in helping new voters as they go through the process.
MORE TO COME!
HOW TO: EARLY IN PERSON VOTING
A PHOTO ID is required for in-person voting.
Early Voting begins October 15 and ends at 3PM on Saturday October 31. Times and locations will be announced this summer. While much is unknown, it is very likely that Henderson County residents may vote early at the Board of Elections: 75 E. Central Street in Hendersonville, off Spartanburg Highway in addition to other locations.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE!
HOW TO: ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
Voting by mail is still a viable option, but you must be informed about new requirements, consider increased delays in mail delivery, and always track your ballot to make sure it arrives and is counted. Note: In NC, the terms “vote by mail” and “absentee voting” refer to the exact same thing; you do not have to be away from home to use absentee voting. Please also note that residents who live overseas for military assignments and other reasons have special accommodations for voting, which can be found here.
Details about how to vote by mail are spelled out at https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail This website includes several links to important information.
The following are highlights only. Please consult the link above for specific instructions.
Step 1: Request Your Ballot & Return the Request
Beginning September 4, you may use this link to request a vote-by-mail ballot: https://votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home You may also contact the Henderson County Board of Elections. They are professionals and ready to help!
Step 2: Complete Your Ballot
Mark your absentee ballot in the presence of two witnesses or one notary public. They are witnessing that you are the person who voted, not who you voted for.
You must place your ballot in the return envelope and seal it.
Sign the envelope and have your two witnesses or a notary public sign the envelope.
Place a copy of an eligible photo ID in the clear sleeve on the back of your ballot envelope. If you are unable to provide a copy of a photo ID, complete and place the Photo ID Exception form (yellow form in your ballot package) into the clear sleeve.
Place the completed and sealed ballot envelope inside the absentee return envelope. It is extremely important to make sure the outer envelope is securely sealed.
Step 3: Return Your Absentee Ballot:
If mailing, return postage is $1.77—3 forever stamps will suffice. (As of June 2026)
Your ballot must be received by your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 3rd. Note: there is no longer a grace period for receiving your ballot so make sure you allow extra time for your ballot to arrive if you are mailing it.
During Early Voting, you may return your ballot in person to an early voting site in Henderson County, or you may return it in person to the Board of Elections (75 E. Central Street, H’ville) during posted hours.
On Election Day, you may deliver your ballot in person to the Board of Elections (75 E. Central Street, H’ville) by 7:30 pm. IMPORTANT: you may not return your absentee ballot to a polling place on Election Day, just the Board of Elections.
NOTE: Due to federal cuts, delays in USPS mail delivery have become widespread. Your ballot must be received by 7:30 pm on November 3rd. If using the mail, return it as soon as possible.
Important: Track your ballot’s progress at https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/ to make sure it arrives and is valid. If there is an issue, please contact the Henderson County Board of Elections for options.
HOW TO: ELECTION DAY VOTING
On Election Day—November 3—voters must vote at their assigned precinct. You can find your precinct here. A photo ID is required.
NOTE: The BOARD OF ELECTIONS is not a voting location on Election Day. If you go there, you will be instructed to go to your home precinct. Similarly, if you go to a site that was an Early Voting Site but is not your precinct, you will also be instructed to go to your own precinct.
Find your precinct by completing the information on the form here.
More information to come!
BONUS SECTION: STICKERS!!!!
Rejoice! Henderson County now has cool I VOTED stickers designed by school students thanks to the League of Women Voters and the Board of Elections:
USER FRIENDLY VOTING RESOURCES
The folks at HENDERSON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS are professionals who take their job seriously and are eager to help answer questions and provide information
Physical Address: 75 E. CENTRAL ST. HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28792
Mailing address: PO BOX 2090HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28793
828-697-4970 | hcelections@hendersoncountync.gov
The NC Board of Elections has a wealth of information for voters in all sorts of situations, including those serving in the military and those in care facilities. https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting
The non-partisan League of Women Voters sponsors a helpful website and are happy to walk people through voting questions: https://www.vote411.org/
HOW DID YOU DO ON THE QUIZ?
· True or False: In May, all five of the GOP members of the NC Supreme Court voted to allow Duke to raise your energy bill by 18 percent while the two Democrats dissented. This is TRUE. See what Justice Anita Earls has to say about it: https://nclcv.org/cib05262026-court-ruling-for-duke-rate-hikes/
· What happened when Republicans gained control of the NC Supreme Court in 2023 and quickly made an unprecedented reversal decision about gerrymandering? As Carolina Forward explains, the rushed and virtually unheard-of reversal paved the way for extreme, racially based gerrymandering that resulted in the contortion of districts that historically vote Democratic. This gerrymandering almost certainly affected the balance of power in the US House, therefore hampering attempts to curtail Trump’s policies.
· How many of the 15 judges on the NC Court of Appeals are Republican? The NC Court of Appeals has 12 Republicans and only three Democrats.
· Why does it matter that courts in Texas and other Southern states have allowed draconian restrictions on reproductive healthcare that have resulted in pregnant women dying? Just this summer, NC Republicans introduced a bill that would charge women seeking abortions (and their doctors) with murder regardless of circumstances due to medical reasons, rape, incest, etc. If this or similar legislation is passed, the NC Supreme Court could become involved. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/05/29/north-carolina-abortion-bill-murder/90278189007/
· Do you know the names of the candidates running for the NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals? Justice Anita Earls is the Democrat running to keep her seat on the NC Supreme Court. Democrats John Arrowood and Toby Hampson are running to keep their seats as judges on the Appellate Court, and Christine Walczyk is running to replace a sitting Democratic judge on the Appellate Court.
· BONUS ANSWER: It is interesting to note that the MAGA endorsed candidate for Supreme Court—Sarah Stevens—has an unusual take on a seemingly straightforward question: is it appropriate for a convicted sexual predator to serve as one’s fundraiser when running for the highest court in the state?
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