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North Carolina Begins Distributing Mail-In Ballots for 2026 Midterm Elections
Just the facts
North Carolina state law requires county election boards to begin sending absentee ballots to requesting voters 60 days prior to general election day. The ballot distribution moves forward as the Trump administration petitions the U.S. Supreme Court to lift lower court injunctions on proposed U.S. Postal Service ballot screening measures. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gave legal challengers until September 8, 2026, to respond to the administration's emergency application. Postal Service officials indicated in court filings that new ballot verification systems remain under development.
Why this is news
Election officials in North Carolina began issuing absentee mail-in ballots on September 4, 2026, becoming the first state to commence voting distribution for the 2026 midterm elections.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.