Polls across North Carolina opened at 6:30 a.m. March 3 for the 2026 midterm primary elections. 

In Alamance County, registered Democrats can vote for one candidate each for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 9 and NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3, and two candidates for Alamance County Board of Commissioners. 

Registered Republicans can vote for one candidate for the U.S. Senate, NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1, Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court and Alamance County Sheriff, and two candidates for Alamance County Board of Commissioners.

Chips Chapman, chief judge for the North Boone voting precinct, said he had been at the First Baptist Church of Elon voting location since 5:30 a.m. and expects to be there after polls close at 7:30 p.m.

“We have a responsibility. Yesterday afternoon, we set up the site and we were here to get things up and running early this morning,” Chapman said. “We turn on the machines, and after the polls close, shut everything down securely, tabulate the results, pack up the materials and take them to the Board of Elections Office in Graham.”

Chapman has worked as an election official for over 20 years and said his favorite part of the job is helping the public perform their civic duty.

“Being able to help the public vote and be part of the democratic process of choosing elected officials,” Chapman said. “And doing the best that we can to treat everyone fairly and equally and help resolve any issues somebody may have about voting and make sure that they are able to make their choices with their wishes known.”

Voters at the First Baptist Church of Elon expressed the need to vote in the primary and midterm elections, even if they might not feel as significant as presidential elections. Leah Bass, a job coach at Western High School, said voting is an important way for constituents to have their voices heard.

“A lot of people think that it doesn’t matter, but I think that it does matter that we have the candidates we want in the major elections,” Bass said. “We don’t get that if we don't vote in the smaller elections.”

Voter Thomas Gahm said he was motivated by increasing political polarization.

“Voting is very important, especially in our time,” Gahm said. “At the moment, America is basically half and half. I want to go with the right way, which, in my opinion, is the democratic way. I don’t want to have another king here.”

Like Bass, he believes voting is a civic duty and Americans have a responsibility to take part in the democratic process.

“There’s a lot of people, our ancestors, who died for the liberty to be able to vote,” Gahm said. “You shouldn’t just throw it away and sit at home and not do anything, you know, I think that is just the wrong attitude.”

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. in North Carolina.

-- Kate Gray