About the League

Make sure your vote counts March 3rd

MountainX, February 15, 2026

Historically, the turnout for primary elections is low, especially in a nonpresidential year. Here are six reasons why you should vote in the 2026 primary election:
• Primaries give voters an early voice in choosing who will appear on the general election ballot.
• Primary elections help shape the choices voters will see later in the election year.
• Your participation helps ensure elections reflect the will of the people.
• Turnout is often lowest in primaries, making each vote especially meaningful.
• Many local offices are decided in primaries, where participation is crucial.
• Voting in every election strengthens democracy.

Having convinced you to vote, here are critical details about the primary in North Carolina:
• A valid ID is needed to vote in every election.
• The voter registration deadline ended Feb. 6, but you can do same-day registration during the early-voting period that runs Feb. 12-Feb. 28.
• Even if you are already registered, make checking your voter registration as part of your plan.
• During early voting, you may vote at any of the sites in your county; sites may have changed since the last election. On election day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.
• Absentee ballot requests must be submitted to the Board of Elections by 5 p.m. on Feb. 17 and must be received by 7:30 p.m. on March 3, election day. Be sure to follow all of the instructions.
• March 3 is your last chance to vote; if you are in line at 7:30 p.m., you must be allowed to vote.

Too much to remember? Just go to vote411.org, the League of Women Voters’ one-stop shop for all the information you need to vote wherever you live.

Vote and make sure your vote counts!

Suzanne Fisher
President League of Women Voters Asheville-Buncombe County

Action Alert

This issue is not about immigration policy—it is about the protection of constitutional rights, the rule of law, and the principle that no government agency is above accountability. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and lethal force against people exercising their First Amendment rights threatens the foundations of our democracy and demands congressional oversight.

The League has a long history of defending civil liberties and civic participation. When constitutional rights are eroded anywhere, they are weakened everywhere.

Click here to tell your elected officials Congress that you demand transparency, investigation, and accountability.

Everything you need to know about the March 3, 2026 Primary Election

The midterm election primaries are early this year; early voting has begun!

You may think, with so many candidates, that your vote doesn’t matter. IT DOES! Don’t give your power away by ignoring these important primary races. Research and pick the most qualified candidates to support.

The primary in Buncombe County is anticipated to be among the most watched U.S. Senate races in the country, as well as city and county seats, North Carolina General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives’ District 11, where Rep. Chuck Edwards is vying to keep his seat.

Local races include school board, Buncombe County commissioners, sheriff, district attorney and a large slate of Asheville City Council candidates. Plus, a mayoral race face-off between the incumbent and a sitting member of council — though they will not appear in the primary. The primary decides who will compete in the general election in November.

Important dates:

January 12: County boards of elections begin mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form.
February 6: Voter Registration deadline (5 pm)
February 12: In-person Early Voting begins
February 17: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 pm)
February 28: Early Voting ends at 3 pm
March 3: Primary Election Day
March 3: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 pm)
March 13: Official election results available

If you vote on election day, you MUST be registered to vote by February 6 at 5 pm.

You CAN REGISTER AND VOTE during Early Voting (but you can’t do both on Election Day!)

Don’t miss SUFFS — the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the women who changed America! Performances will run March 10-15, 2026 in Charlotte. Click here for tickets.

The League of Women Voters North Carolina has arranged for a block of tickets for the March 15th matinee. If you’re interested in attending that performance, you can find more information here. Seats have been reserved for League members and friends in two excellent sections: Grand Tier and Mezzanine. (*Choose the starred seats.)

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, volunteer-based, political organization consisting of women and men passionate about our democracy. Born out of the national women’s suffrage movement in 1920, the League continues to work to serve the needs of the voting public and protect the rights of all voters.

Our efforts are two-fold:
Voters Service, Citizen Education – presenting unbiased, nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process and current issues.

Action, Advocacy – following education on the issue(s), action is taken towards enacting policies in the public interest and striking down policies harmful to society.

A just society is derived from a democracy consisting of an engaged and educated public that has faith in the political process.

The League of Women Voters is a membership organization encouraging action and advocacy as a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation. To conduct our voter service and citizen education activities, funds are derived from the Florence Ryan Education Fund, which is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to building citizen participation in democratic process, studying key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner, and enabling people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County currently offers meetings and events for members as well as educational programs for the public. Quarterly member events include two meetings each year, a Holiday Social in winter and an Annual Luncheon & Meeting in May or June. League action teams and committees also hold regular meetings for the members involved in those groups.

Join us! Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky. And check out our YouTube Channel for past meetings and voting issues we’re involved with. Our Calendar page has upcoming events.

Connect with your State League: North Carolina League of Women Voters
Connect with the National League: National League of Women Voters

Our chapter is centered around Buncombe County and includes several adjoining counties. This is the homeland of the Cherokee and other nations. We recognize the sovereignty and traditional territories of these local tribal nations, the treaties used to remove them, and the histories of dispossession. We honor and respect the many diverse indigenous people who came before us, who are still here, and who are connected to the land on which we reside.