The 2026 midterms are here. Tuesday is Election Day. WRAL is offering live updates here throughout the day — from possible polling problems to results of key races. Check back throughout the day for the latest. Here’s what you need to know at this hour.
See WRAL’s complete election guide.
Latest
9 a.m.: The North Carolina State Board of Elections will hold an emergency meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday to review any issues reported at polling places and consider whether to recommend extending voting hours at affected precincts, according to spokesman Jason Tyson.
Tyson said the meeting is a routine part of Election Day operations and is classified as an emergency meeting only to meet public notice requirements.
8:30 a.m.: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley spoke to voters in Clayton as they showed up to the polls. His opponent, Democrat Roy Cooper, will meet with voters at 9 a.m. in Raleigh.
8 a.m.: Jason Tyson, a spokesperson with the NC State Board of Elections, told WRAL News officials are investigating a possible issue at Vinson-Bynum Elementary School, a polling place in Wilson.
“Our elections administration team is speaking to the county to see if there’s an issue at the Vinson-Bynum Elementary School right now,” Tyson said. “We’re looking into it and we’ll update as soon as we have correspondence from the county.
Tyson added officials are also monitoring a few minor delays reported earlier Tuesday morning at polling places in Lenoir, Wilson and Hertford counties.
6:30 a.m.: Polls opened across the state.
How to vote
How, when, where to vote: Polls across the state close at 7:30 p.m. Those voting today will need to bring an acceptable ID and head to their assigned precinct. For how to double-check that information, or find a sample ballot showing the races you can vote in, check out WRAL’s election-day voting guide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXAdPZf51A
Key races
US Senate: Voters will decide who will become North Carolina’s next United States senator on Tuesday — a decision that could affect not just the political trajectory of the state but of Congress as a whole. Democrats need to flip four Senate seats nationwide to take back the Senate. Democrat Roy Cooper has consistently led Republican Michaely Whatley by a large margin in recent polls. Libertarian Shannon Bray and the Green Party’s Michael Dublin are also running.
U.S. House of Representatives: Democrats are hoping to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. North Carolina voters could impact which party holds power by deciding the race between Democratic U.S Rep. Don Davis and Republican Laurie Buckhout — a rematch from 2024. They’re running to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District, which state lawmakers redrew to favor a GOP candidate. But Davis has managed to win support in the district from moderates and some Republicans. No other Democratic seats are likely to flip red. But Democrats are hoping they can hold the 1st District and possibly flip another district blue.
North Carolina General Assembly: For almost a decade, Republicans have held enough seats in the state House and Senate to enact many of their proposals with ease, even over objections of Democratic governors. Democrats are hoping to pick up enough seats to strengthen Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s veto power. Analysts think there’s an outside chance of Democrats gaining control of at least one of the two GOP-controlled chambers.
Proposed constitutional amendments: North Carolina voters will decide Tuesday on three proposed amendments to the state’s constitution — efforts by state lawmakers to restrict income tax rates and property tax increases, and to make it harder to change state rules on voter identification.
NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals: A seat on the state Supreme Court is up for grabs, as are three seats on the NC Court of Appeals. Whoever wins could influence rulings for years to come on topics ranging from redistricting to the death penalty, power struggles between the legislature and governor, electricity costs and more. Democratic Justice Anita Earls is seeking a second eight-year term on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Republican Sarah Stevens, a longtime top member of state legislative leadership, is also seeking the seat.
Local ballots
Wake County Board of Education: Voters in the state’s largest public school district will also be electing members of the Wake County Board of Education. Four seats on the board are up for grabs. At least two of them will be taken by entirely new faces because two incumbents chose not to run for reelection to the nine-member board. Whoever is on the next school board will have to contend with budget crunches and high demands for additional resources and more facility repairs. The school board oversees the superintendent, makes policies and sets the school district’s budget, which tops $2.2 billion.
Wake school bond: Wake County voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve a $680 million loan for the Wake County Public School System, largely focused on renovations and new equipment at existing schools and community colleges. The bond would be funded by a dedicated property tax of $4.10 for every $100,000 of property value.
Other local races: Seats on the Raleigh City Council are up for election this year. Voters in Wake, Durham and Orange counties will also be electing new county commissioners, sheriffs, prosecutors and more.