Voting in the 2026 elections

vote 2026 header

The 2026 elections are fast approaching. Below is information on voting in Central and Southern Appalachia, including each state's voting requirements, registration deadlines, early voting and more.

 

JUMP TO YOUR STATE

State-by-State General Voting Info

GEORGIA

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES

ABSENTEE BALLOTS

  • Any registered Georgia voter can apply for an absentee ballot. You apply online or print the form to mail, email, fax or deliver in person.
  • Complete and return your ballot to your local general registrar's office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
  • You may also return your absentee ballot to a secure drop box location by 7 p.m. on Election Day. To find your location, contact your county registrar.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Georgia urges voters to mail their ballots back at least a week before Election Day.

KENTUCKY

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES 

  • Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration. Registration must be completed by 4 p.m. online or 4:30 p.m. in person.
  • Oct. 20: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot (information on mail-in/absentee ballot)
  • Oct. 21: Early in-person, excused absentee voting begins (information on early voting locations)
  • Oct. 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 & 28: In-person excused absentee voting
  • Oct. 29-31: Early in-person, no-excuse absentee voting.
  • Oct. 31: Last day of early, in-person voting
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Vote in person from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. All mail-in/absentee ballots must be returned by 6 p.m. Find your polling place.

(pens in new tab

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Complete and return your ballot to your county clerk’s office by 6 p.m. on Election Day.
  • You may also return your absentee ballot to a secure drop-off location by 6 p.m. on Election Day. Find the location in your county by visiting the State Board of Elections website.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day. Kentucky suggests that voters mail their ballots back as soon as they complete them.
  • For in-person excused absentee voters, your available voting dates are Oct. 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 and 28. You may also vote during the no-excuse dates below.
  • For in-person no-excuse absentee voters, your available voting dates are Oct. 29-31.

NORTH CAROLINA

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES 

  • Oct. 9: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration by 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 15: Early in-person voting begins (information on early voting locations)
  • Oct. 15-31: Early in-person voting plus same-day voter registration
  • Oct. 20: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. (information on mail-in/absentee ballot)
  • Oct. 31: Last day of early, in-person voting by 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for in-person voting. All mail-in/absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. Look up your polling place.

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Complete and return your ballot to your county board of elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
  • You may also return your absentee ballot to your county board of elections during early voting hours or to your voting site on Election Day. See return options here.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

OHIO

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES 

  • Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration
  • Oct. 6: Early in-person (information on early voting locations) and absentee voting by mail begins (information on mail-in/absentee ballot)
  • Oct. 6 through Nov. 1: Early in-person voting
  • Oct. 27: Absentee ballot applications must be received by your board of elections by 8:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 1: Last day of early, in-person voting
  • Nov. 2: Mail-in/absentee ballots must be postmarked and mailed
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for in-person voting. All mail-in/absentee ballots must be returned by 7:30 p.m. Look up your polling place.

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Complete and return your ballot to your board of elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
  • You may also return your absentee ballot to a secure drop box location by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Find your drop-off location.

SOUTH CAROLINA

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES 

  • Oct. 2: Deadline to register to vote in person by 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 4: Deadline to register to vote online or by fax or email.
  • Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote by mail for General Election (must be postmarked by this date).
  • Oct. 19: Early in-person voting begins (information on early voting locations)
  • Oct. 19-31: Early in-person voting (8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday; closed Sunday, Oct. 25)
  • Oct. 23: Deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by 5 p.m. (information on mail-in/absentee ballot).
  • Oct. 31: Last day of early in-person voting by 6 p.m.
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Vote in person from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. Find your polling place at MyscVOTES.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Return your ballot by mail or personal delivery to your local county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Find your county office here.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. South Carolina recommends mailing ballots back no later than one week before Election Day to help ensure timely delivery.

TENNESSEE

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

DATES 

  • Oct. 5: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration
  • Oct. 14: Early in-person voting begins (information on early voting locations)
  • Oct. 14-29: Early in-person voting
  • Oct. 24: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot (information on mail-in/absentee ballot)
  • Oct. 29: Last day of early in-person voting
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Vote in person from 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT to 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. All mail-in/absentee ballots must be returned by the close of polls. Find your polling place here.

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it by the close of polls on Election Day.  

VIRGINIA

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

DATES:

  • Sept. 18: Early in-person voting begins (information on early voting locations). Same-day voter registration is available in person during the remainder of early voting. Learn more about same-day voter registration.
  • Sept. 18 through Oct. 31: Early in-person voting plus same-day voter registration.
  • Oct. 23: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration and to apply for a mail-in ballot
  • Oct. 31: Last day of early voting
  • Nov. 3: Election Day! Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for in-person voting, including same-day voter registration at your polling place. All mail-in/absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. Look up your polling place.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Complete and return your ballot to your local general registrar's office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
  • You may also return your absentee ballot to a drop-off location during early voting.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your general registrar's office by noon on Nov. 6.

WEST VIRGINIA

VOTING REQUIREMENTS: See your state’s voter ID requirements.

 

DATES 

  • Oct. 13: Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration
  • Oct. 21: Early in-person voting begins (information on early voting locations)
  • Oct. 21 through Oct. 31: Early in-person voting
  • Oct. 28: Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot (information on mail-in/absentee ballot)
  • Oct. 31: Last day of early in-person voting
  • Nov. 2: Deadline to return absentee ballot in-person
  • Nov. 3: Election day! Vote in person from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place here.

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

  • Complete and return your ballot to your local general registrar's office by Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. No one person may deliver more than two voters' absentee ballots.
  • If you are returning your ballot by mail, it will be accepted until Nov. 4 without a postmark and by Nov. 9 if it is postmarked by Election Day.