North Carolina election officials will hold a news conference on Tuesday, March 3, to address preparations for the state’s 2026 primary election. The event, hosted by the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE), will begin at 11 a.m. And offer both in-person and remote access for credentialed members of the media.
Sam Hayes, the current executive director of the NCSBE, will lead the conference and is expected to answer questions regarding election logistics and security measures. The in-person event will take place at the North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center Media Room in Raleigh. Media wishing to attend in person are required to RSVP to ncsbe.comms@ncsbe.gov and present a valid state-issued ID upon arrival.
Remote access will be available via Microsoft Teams. Journalists seeking the login information should also email ncsbe.comms@ncsbe.gov, providing their name and media affiliation. A live stream of the news conference will be publicly accessible to all North Carolina residents.
Hayes assumed the role of executive director in May 2025, replacing Karen Brinson Bell, whose term expired on May 15 of that year. His appointment followed a shift in leadership at the NCSBE, with new members appointed by State Auditor Dave Boliek after legislation passed in 2024 granted Boliek authority over the board. The new board members include Republicans Francis DeLuca and Bob Rucho, alongside current members Stacy “Four” Eggers, Siobhan Millen, and Jeff Carmon.
Prior to leading the NCSBE, Hayes served as general counsel for the Office of the North Carolina Speaker of the House, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of State Treasurer. He also ran for state attorney general in 2020, losing the Republican primary to Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill. His legal background includes experience in election policy development and defense of election law.
In a recent departure from established practice, state officials involved in elections oversight have been publicly expressing support for political candidates. Earlier this month, Hayes attended a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, and State Auditor Boliek campaigned for Senate Leader Phil Berger at an early voting site.
