Election Day & Beyond – Voting, Results, and What Happens After You Vote

Election Day is just the beginning of the election process. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, polls in Brunswick County will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

After the polls close, election officials continue important work to ensure every eligible vote is counted and verified before results are certified. Here's what voters need to know about Election Day, election results, and the steps that follow.

What Voters Need to Know on Election Day

Vote at Your Assigned Polling Place

Voters must go to their assigned polling place to vote on Election Day.

Find your polling place: Use the Voter Lookup Tool to confirm your polling location before heading out.

You can also view your personalized sample ballot using the Voter Lookup Tool. Consider reviewing it before you arrive to help prepare for voting.

Photo ID Requirement

North Carolina voters are required to show an acceptable photo ID when voting in person. There are options available if you do not have your ID.

No Acceptable ID? You may still vote by casting a provisional ballot and completing a Photo ID Exception Form (also called a Reasonable Impediment Affidavit) explaining why you are unable to provide an acceptable photo ID.
Forgot Your ID? You may vote a provisional ballot and bring your acceptable photo ID to the Board of Elections office by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 10. You may also retrieve your ID and return to your polling place before polls close.
Accepted Forms of ID: Visit the State Board of Elections Voter ID page for a complete list of acceptable photo IDs.

Note: Voters who complete a Photo ID Exception Form do not need to return to the Board of Elections office with an ID.

Voter Turnout Updates

Track Election Day turnout! Each precinct will report the number of voters checked in at the following times:

10:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Close of polls

Turnout numbers will be shared as they are received throughout the day.

View the 10-2-4 Turnout Spreadsheet

Unofficial Election Results

Where to Find Results: Unofficial results will be posted on the State Board of Elections Results Dashboard on election night.

Important: All results reported on election night are unofficial. Additional eligible ballots may be added during the canvass period before the results become official.

Absentee Results

All absentee ballots received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day must be processed and counted.
Because of changes to the absentee ballot counting process, absentee results may be released later than in past elections while all ballots received by the deadline are processed.

Early Voting Results

The Board will meet at 4:00 p.m. on Election Day to tabulate early voting ballots.
Early voting results are expected to be among the first results available after polls close.

Election Day Results

Precinct results will be uploaded periodically throughout the evening as they arrive at the Board of Elections office and are processed.

Election Day Board Meeting

Date & Time: Tuesday, November 3, at 4:00 p.m.
Location: Brunswick County Board of Elections office, 75 Stamp Act Drive NE, Building H, Bolivia.
Purpose: The Board will meet to tabulate early voting ballots and count absentee ballots. No results will be released before polls close at 7:30 p.m. Absentee results may be delayed while all ballots received by the deadline are processed.
Public Access: The meeting is open to the public and will be live-streamed via Zoom.

After Election Day

The election process continues after Election Day. Election officials review provisional ballots, process eligible absentee ballot cures, and conduct required audits before the Board certifies the official results.

Sample Audit Count

Date & Time: Monday, November 9, at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Brunswick County Board of Elections office, 75 Stamp Act Drive NE, Building H, Bolivia.
Purpose: To verify that voting equipment accurately recorded voters' choices.
Public Access: Open to the public and live-streamed via Zoom.

What is a sample audit count?

North Carolina law requires a sample hand-count audit after each election. The process includes:

The State Board randomly selects precincts or voting groupings for each county.
Bipartisan teams hand-count ballots from the selected locations and compare those counts with the voting equipment results.
Any differences are reviewed and documented.

The audit is conducted before canvass and is open to the public.

Provisional and Absentee Meeting

After Election Day, staff will review the eligibility of voters who cast provisional ballots and consider absentee ballot cures received by the statutory deadline.

Date & Time: Tuesday, November 10, at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Commissioners' Chambers, 30 Government Center Drive, Bolivia.
Purpose:
- Determine the eligibility of provisional ballots cast in the election.
- Review and process absentee ballot cures received by 12:00 noon on November 10.
Results: Eligible provisional ballots and cured absentee ballots will be added to the election results following the Board's review.
Public Access: The meeting is open to the public and will be live-streamed via Zoom.

Canvass Meeting (Official Results)

Canvass is the final step in the election process. The Board reviews the completed election results and certifies the official results.

Date & Time: Friday, November 13, at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Commissioners' Chambers, 30 Government Center Drive, Bolivia.
Purpose: The Board will certify the official results of the election.
Public Access: Open to the public and live-streamed via Zoom.

Thank you for staying informed and participating in the election process!

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