From the Desk of the County Manager, October 23, 2026[1]
Greetings, Durham!
We are in the second week of early voting for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and Durham County residents are showing up. As of Thursday, October 22, 2026, more than 53,000 of our 252,300-plus eligible voters have already cast ballots, including 8,489 on the first day alone. I encourage all residents to make their voice heard.
Early voting continues through Saturday, October 31, at 10 sites across the county, and you may vote at any of them. Sites are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. If you are not yet registered, you can register and vote the same day at any early voting site; bring proof of residency.
Please remember that North Carolina requires photo ID to vote. Same-day registration ends when early voting ends, and on Election Day you must vote at your assigned precinct.
You can find site locations, live wait times, and sample ballots on the Durham County Board of Elections website and in the newsletter below. Please share this information with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors.
Know Your Ballot
This year’s ballot includes federal, state, and local contests, plus three proposed amendments to the North Carolina Constitution: requiring photo ID for all voters, capping the state income tax rate, and requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments. Reviewing your sample ballot before you go will help you become familiar with it.
A Word from Durham County’s Director of Elections
“Voting is a shared responsibility that connects neighbors across every part of Durham County,” said Derek L. Bowens, Director of Elections, Durham County Board of Elections. “Each election, I’m inspired by the residents who show up, the volunteers who serve, and the families who bring their children along to see democracy in action. We hope every eligible voter will take part and help carry that tradition forward.”
Our Durham Community Votes
Durham holds a rich history and legacy steeped in civic engagement. The NC Cooperative Extension and Durham County hosts Kids Voting Durham. This nonpartisan initiative shows youth under 18 that they already have a voice as engaged citizens and prepares them to become informed voters. From youth learning about voting and college students casting their first ballots on local campuses to residents like 114-year-old Mrs. Catherine Ferrell, North Carolina’s oldest living resident, Durham’s commitment to the ballot spans generations.
Whether this is your first election or your fiftieth, your voice matters. Thank you to our Board of Elections staff and the poll workers serving our community.
I’ll see you at the polls.
Until next week,
Claudia Hager
Durham County Manager