An electoral ticket It is not filled in the same way in all its sections.
Some contests allow voters to choose only one candidate, while others may ask voters to select more than one.
Reading the instructions for each section before marking it can help avoid mistakes.
For 2026 general electionElection Day will be Tuesday, November 3rd. Polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Check the ballot before voting
Before going to the polls, you can consult a copy of your sample ballot through the Voter Search tool of the State Board of Elections.
The sample ballot allows you to see the contests and questions that will appear on your specific ballot.
It's important to check the ballot for your district, as not all voters receive the exact same contests. Local elections, for example, can vary by county, city, or electoral district.
All about the 2026 elections
Find in Enlace Latino NC Information about candidates, proposals, dates, and what's at stake in the North Carolina elections to learn about and better understand the electoral process.
See how many candidates you can select
The ballot indicates, in each election, how many candidates the voter can select. This instruction appears as “Vote for 1”, “Vote for 2”, “Vote for 3”, etc.
In the North Carolina electionsYou will mainly find these cases:
- “Vote for 1”: when electing only one office. This includes, for example, the election of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, and other state offices, as well as each individual seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, the North Carolina House of Representatives, and the state Senate.
- “Vote for 2”: when the race is for two positions. This can happen in local elections, such as some races for county commissioners or school boards.
- “Vote for 3”: when three positions are being elected. This can also occur in local contests, such as some elections for county commissioners or school boards.
The number of ballots does not depend solely on the name of the office. For example, a school board may have a "Vote for 1" ballot for a specific district and another "Vote for 2" or "Vote for 3" ballot for positions that are elected together.
La official list of 2026 candidates It shows, for example, contests for school boards in individual districts, while other local contests may cover several positions.
Therefore, the most important rule is to check the instructions printed on your own ballot. If it says “Vote for 2,” you can select one or two candidates; if it says “Vote for 3,” you can select one, two, or three candidates. You don't have to select the maximum number.
If you select more candidates than allowed in a contest, it's called an overvote, and the vote for that contest is not counted.
After marking the ballot
When you're finished, follow the instructions at the polling station to insert or hand in your ballot.
Do not leave without completing that last step. If you have any problems with the ticket or equipment, ask a staff member for help. election worker.
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