Statewide Candidate Filing for the 2026 Primary Election

The candidate filing period for the 2026 primary election begins at noon on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, and ends at noon on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.  The withdrawal deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.  Candidates can file at the Jones County Board of Elections office or the State Board, depending upon the contest.  Candidates filing in December can check Filing Fees for more information.  Additional information related to filing for candidacy can be found on the NCSBE website.

2026 Primary Election Date

The 2026 statewide primary election is Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Candidate Filing Forms

Political Campaign Signs

Please visit the NC State Board of Elections website for information concerning statewide guidelines for sign placement

Political campaign signs are allowed, on private property and in the right-of-way of state-maintained roads, in all districts subject to the following standards:

  • Signs may be located on private property with prior permission of the owner.
  • Signs may only be erected during the period 30 days before the beginning date of Early Voting.
  • Signs shall be removed within ten calendar days following election.
  • No sign shall be permitted in the right-of-way of a fully controlled access highway (a highway with no at-grade crossings and access only at limited public roads. 
  • No sign located within the right-of-way shall be higher than 42 inches above the edge of the pavement of the road.
  • Signs within the right-of-way may not obscure motorist visibility at any intersection.
  • No sign shall be larger than six square feet if it is within the right-of-way. When a political campaign sign is erected in place of another sign permitted at that location and outside of the right-of-way then it may be the same size and is subject to the same conditions as the sign it is replacing.
  • Signs must be at least three feet from the edge of pavement.
  • No sign shall obscure or replace another sign.
  • Signs are not allowed in the medians of any roadways.
  • The candidate must obtain the prior permission of any property owner of a residence, business or religious institution fronting the right-of-way where a sign would be erected.

 

NC General Statutes Concerning Signs

  • Planned communities (homeowners associations) limiting the right to display political signs on private property GS 47F-3-121
  • Political signs allowed on DOT right-of-way (highways) GS 136-32
  • Political signs not allowed on electric company fixtures GS 14-154
  • Signs are protected from being damaged or taken down GS 14-384
  • Size requirement for print advertisements GS 163-278.39(b)
  •  

Campaigns are responsible for the collection and disposal of their signs.

Petition Information

Jones County Board of Elections

367 Hwy 58 S, Unit B
Trenton, NC 28585

Phone: 252-448-3921
Fax: 252-448-1040

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Director: Jessica Taylor

Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday
8am-5pm

Fridays
8am-Noon

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