The survey release comes as many county boards of elections finalize early voting plans for the 2026 primary election

RALEIGH, NC – Regardless of political party, age, or race, North Carolina voters favor broad voting access that includes Sunday voting during the early voting period and placing voting sites on college campuses, according to a survey conducted by a Republican-leaning polling firm.

The release comes as many county boards of elections finalize their early voting locations and schedules for the 2026 primary election. Where county boards of elections don’t come to a unanimous agreement on an early voting plan, the State Board of Elections will have the final say.

A strong majority – 74% of voters – support providing in-person voting on Sundays during the early voting period, as is currently allowed in North Carolina. Just 20% oppose Sunday voting.

Support for Sunday voting is found across party lines, with 86% of Democrats, 56% of Republicans, and 78% of unaffiliated voters in favor. There is equally strong support across race: 75% of Black voters and 75% of white voters favor Sunday voting.

Meanwhile, 79% of voters support placing early voting sites on college campuses or at locations easily accessible to college student voters, which has been shown to increase turnout among student voters. Just 16% oppose having sites accessible to college students.

Once again there is strong bipartisan agreement here, with 91% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and 79% of unaffiliated voters in favor of having voting sites on college campuses. Across all age groups, there is broad support for making polling places accessible to college students, including 92% of voters age 18-34 and 66% of voters age 65 and above.

The survey was conducted by Opinion Diagnostics, a polling firm that provides research for a variety of Republican politicians as well as non-political entities. The poll was commissioned by the nonpartisan voting rights organization Common Cause North Carolina.

The poll also finds that 69% of voters support expanding same-day voter registration to let North Carolinians register to vote on Election Day itself. That would build upon the current law that allows same-day registration only during the early voting period. Support for expanding same-day registration includes 89% of Democrats, 52% of Republicans, and 68% of unaffiliated voters.

“Across party, race, and age, North Carolinians want broad voting access – and they don’t want politicians imposing unfair barriers to casting a ballot,” said Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina. “The fact is, common-sense policies like same-day registration, Sunday voting, and having polling places accessible for college students work well for voters of all parties. North Carolina should protect these successful and popular pro-voter policies.”

The survey of 671 registered North Carolina voters was conducted Sept. 15-17, 2025 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8%.

See the poll results, crosstabs and polling memo here.

Common Cause North Carolina is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.