Voting & Elections
How to register, where to vote, how to look up your sample ballot, voter ID rules, absentee voting, the 2026 election calendar, and the Wake Forest municipal cycle. Wake County runs every election for Wake Forest residents.
Quick Actions
Wake County Board of Elections
Wake County, not the Town of Wake Forest, runs every election for Wake Forest residents — from municipal to federal. All registration, polling place, and ballot questions go through Wake County BoE.
- Address: 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
- Phone: 919-404-4040
- Web: wake.gov/board-elections
How to Register to Vote
Three paths. Most people use the online portal because it’s instant and uses your NC license to verify identity.
Online (fastest)
If you have a current NC driver’s license or NC DMV-issued ID, register online through the State Board’s portal.
Register Online →By mail
Download the voter registration form, fill it out, mail to Wake County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602. Must be postmarked by the deadline.
In person
Visit the Wake County Board of Elections at 1200 N. New Hope Road, Raleigh. During the early voting period, you can also register and vote on the same day at any early voting site (see Same-Day Registration below).
Deadline
25 days before each election. After that, same-day registration is available only during early voting.
Same-Day Registration During Early Voting
If you miss the 25-day deadline, you can still register and vote at any early voting site during the early voting period — but not on Election Day itself. Bring an acceptable document showing your current name and address (driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, etc.).
Voter ID
North Carolina requires photo ID to vote. Acceptable IDs include:
- NC driver’s license or NC DMV-issued ID
- US passport or passport card
- Military ID, US veteran ID
- Tribal ID
- NC public university or state college ID (if approved)
- Free voter ID from your county Board of Elections
If you forget your ID at the polls, you can still vote with a provisional ballot and present ID later. If you have no ID, you can fill out a Photo ID Exception Form.
Where Wake Forest Residents Vote
Early voting
The closest early voting site for most Wake Forest residents is the Northern Regional Center at 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest. Wake County opens 12+ early voting sites countywide during each election; the full list is published roughly two weeks before each early voting period starts.
Election Day
On Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct polling place, which is determined by your residential address. Wake Forest is split across several precincts (Forestville, Wake Forest 1, Wake Forest 2, etc.) so your neighbor’s polling place may not be yours.
Find My Polling Place → Wake County Early Voting →Absentee (Mail-In) Voting
Any registered NC voter can request an absentee ballot — no excuse needed. Submit the request online through the State Board’s portal, or mail/email/fax a completed request form to your county Board of Elections.
Request Absentee Ballot →Mail-in ballots require photo ID, a witness, and must be returned by the Election Day deadline.
2026 Election Calendar
2026 is a federal election year. Statewide and federal races dominate the November ballot; Wake Forest municipal seats are not on the regular cycle in 2026.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 12–28, 2026 | Primary early voting (already occurred) |
| March 3, 2026 | NC Primary Election Day (already occurred) |
| June 23, 2026 | BOC Special Called Session: commissioner vacancy appointed by the board (not a public election) |
| October 9, 2026 | Voter registration deadline for the November General Election |
| October 16 – November 1, 2026 | Early voting period for General Election |
| November 3, 2026 | General Election Day |
Confirm dates and the early voting site list at Wake County BoE as they get closer.
Wake Forest Municipal Election Cycle
Wake Forest holds municipal elections in odd-numbered years — Mayor and Board of Commissioners seats. The most recent cycle was November 2025, which elected Mayor Ben Clapsaddle and the current commissioners. The next regular municipal election is November 2027.
Vacancies between elections are filled by Board appointment, not by special election — see our Government & Civic page for the current vacancy process and BOC roster.
School Board Elections
The Wake County Public Schools Board of Education has nine members elected by district to staggered four-year terms. Wake Forest is served primarily by District 1; the rest serve countywide. Elections fall in odd-numbered years.
Trusted Resources
- NC State Board of Elections — statewide registration, voter portal, election rules
- Wake County Board of Elections — local polling places, early voting, ballot info
- BallotReady — nonpartisan candidate research by address
- Vote411 (League of Women Voters) — candidate questionnaires and ballot info
Related Pages
- Government & Civic — Mayor, Board of Commissioners, public meetings
- Newcomers Checklist — register to vote at your new address
Election coverage from Wake Forest Matters
We cover every Wake Forest municipal election, BOC vacancy appointment, and the Wake Forest portion of every state and federal cycle. Subscribe free for race-by-race coverage and the BOC agenda preview the day before each meeting.