Nation’s first primary states to begin early voting

(The Center Square) – Early voting has begun or is about to begin in states with the earliest 2026 midterm election primaries.

Illinois, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi will hold some of the country’s first primaries with March election dates already set.

Each state has different regulations for who can vote in which primaries. Here are guidelines for each race and key players in each primary election.

North Carolina

The 51-day window to vote in the primaries began with absentee early voting Jan. 12. Early in-person voting runs Thursday to Feb. 28, and the primary Election Day is March 3.

Voters registered with a specific party must only vote in that primary election’s contest. However, unaffiliated voters can choose which party’s ballot they select.

Registered voters in the state this cycle will choose a U.S. senator, all 14 U.S. House representatives, one state Supreme Court judge and three appellate justices. All 170 seats in the General Assembly – 50 in the Senate, 120...