North Carolina Absentee Ballot Process

No excuses are needed to request a mail-in absentee ballot.

To receive a mail-in ballot you must complete the State Absentee Ballot Request form. A signed copy of this form must be received by the county board of elections no later than 5pm on the last Tuesday before the election. You can mail, fax, email or hand deliver the form to the county board of elections. Find your county board of elections contact information here.

When completing the State Absentee Ballot Request Form you must provide your name, address, birthdate, and an identification number (like your North Carolina driver license number, your North Carolina DMV identification card or the last four digits of your social security number). If you do not provide an identification number you must send one of the below in along with your form:

• A copy of a current and valid photo ID
• A copy of one of the following documents that shows your name and address: current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document.

A person other than the voter (a near relative or legal guardian) may fill out the State Absentee Ballot Request form. A near relative is either your spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent or stepchild.

Once you receive your ballot, you may vote the ballot in the presence of two witnesses (or one witness if the witness is a notary-public). Once voted, you must seal the ballot in the return envelope and complete the information on the back of the return envelope. The witnesses must complete and sign the envelope in the space assigned to them. If someone assists the voter, they must sign and date the certificate as well.

The voted ballot must be returned no later than 5pm on the night of the election. You may mail or hand deliver the envelope to the board of elections' office. If the ballot is received after 5pm it will only be counted if they are received by mail and have a postmark that is dated on or before the day of the election and they are received by 5pm three days following the election.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.