Voting amidst a pandemic has generated a lot of questions – and led to a rise in popularity of voting by absentee ballot. As of Sept. 21, about 950,000 North Carolina voters have requested the absentee ballot.
Here’s a quick guide to voting by absentee ballot in North Carolina in 2020:
Can any North Carolina voter request the absentee ballot?
Yes. North Carolina has no-excuse absentee voting, which means you don’t need a special reason. To request the ballot, use this convenient online portal via the NC Board of Elections website. Or fill out this form and return it to your County Board of Elections by email, fax, mail, or in-person drop off. You must request the absentee ballot by Oct. 27, but we recommend that you complete this task as soon as possible. Ballots are now being mailed to voters who request them, so once you submit your request, you should see your ballot show up in your mailbox in about 7 to 10 days. Your ballot comes with very clear instructions and a container envelope – filling that out is key to completing the process.
How can I track my ballot?
BallotTrax is a handy tool offered through the State Board of Elections that allows you to track your ballot from when you submit your request to when your completed ballot is received and accepted by your County Board of Elections. Sign up!
Do you recommend that voters request the absentee ballot?
Yes. You can decide later that you don’t want to use it. You can choose to vote in person instead. In that case, just rip up and throw away your unmarked, unused absentee ballot. You do NOT need to even mention your absentee ballot request to a poll worker. Just show up and vote as you normally would. But definitely request the absentee ballot! Think of it as a backup plan. What if something prevents you from voting in person?
What’s up with the witness requirement?
Only one witness is required. That person can stay a safe six feet away from you, by the way. They don’t need to see WHO you are voting for. They simply need to verify that it is YOU who filled out the ballot.
Anyone who is 18 years of age or older can be a witness except a candidate (unless the candidate is your near relative or legal guardian). So that means your spouse, your friend, your sibling, your mother can, in most cases, be your witness.
Once you have filled out your ballot, place it in the envelope. Seal the envelope. Don’t place anything else into the envelope. Sign your name where it says Step 2 on the back of the envelope. Have your witness print their name and address and sign where it is marked Step 3. Please make sure they fill this out completely! For example, include “NC” after the city. Write down a complete address, such as “123 Main St.” versus “123 Main.”
What are the potential pitfalls of voting by absentee ballot?
The biggest one is the witness section of the envelope not being thoroughly and properly completed. Take your time. Be methodical! When in doubt, spell things out.
Do we have signature matching in North Carolina?
We do not. In other words, you do not have to wonder if your signature from 10 years ago, when you signed up to register to vote in North Carolina, looks identical to your signature today. And you don’t have to worry about this when it comes to your witness either.
How can I return my absentee ballot?
You can hand deliver your absentee ballot in its container envelope to your county board of elections. You can click here to find out the address for your county, but you will also find this address in your absentee ballot instructions. If you aren’t sure of their hours, give them a call before you run this errand. You can also mail it back – one first-class (55 cent or forever) stamp is required. Or you can spend more money and use a service like UPS or FedEx. Finally, you can return the absentee ballot at one of your county’s early voting locations. Early voting runs from Oct. 15 to 31. However, you may have to stand in line behind voters who show up to vote, so this option is the least appealing to us if you’re voting by absentee ballot.
Can someone return the absentee ballot for me?
Yes, a near relative can hand deliver your ballot on your behalf to your County Board of Elections. “Near relative” is defined as a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild.
So that means North Carolina doesn’t have ballot drop boxes?
We do not. We have drop-off locations – aka County Boards of Election offices and early voting sites (see above) – but not contact-free drop boxes.
Do I need to show my ID in order for my ballot to be accepted?
No. North Carolina voters are not required to provide or show ID until further order of the courts.
What is my deadline to return the absentee ballot?
It must be hand delivered to your County Board of Elections or postmarked on or before Nov. 3. But we recommend you complete this task much sooner than that! We wouldn’t advise mailing your absentee ballot after Oct. 9.
When are absentee ballots counted?
Upon receipt, your county board of elections staff reviews each container-return envelope. Beginning five weeks before Election Day (Sept. 29), the County Board of Elections holds weekly absentee board meetings where the approved ballots are inserted into a voting machine. However, results are not tabulated or reported until the night of the election, very shortly after the polls close.
What is this ballot “cure” process I hear people speak of?
Essentially, if there is a problem with your absentee ballot or the container envelope, you still get a chance to vote. You are given a chance to correct the issue. The County Board of Elections staff will contact the voter in writing within one business day of identifying the deficiency to inform the voter of the issue and outline steps to proceed.
Talk to me about the issues we are hearing about pertaining to the U.S. Postal Service.
The mail is certainly sometimes running a bit slow. So you don’t want to, for example, drop your absentee ballot in the mail on Election Day (Nov. 3) if you can help it at all. Let’s vote early this year!
I’m not that comfortable with voting absentee. It just feels foreign to me. Do you think it’s OK if I vote in person?
Absolutely! Make the voting plan that works best for YOU. If you do vote in person, we strongly recommend that you vote during the early voting period, from Oct. 15 to 31. During Early Voting, you can early vote at any early voting location in your county. (By contrast, on Election Day – Nov. 3 – you MUST go to your assigned Election Day polling location, which you can look up here.). Click here to find the early voting locations for your county.
What’s on my ballot?
We encourage you to check out your sample ballot by using the Voter Lookup tool here. Get acquainted with it before you vote. Also, we would love for you to check out FLIP NC’s Voter Guide for more on what’s at stake in this election. The presidential election is just the tip of the iceberg. Remember to vote the full ballot, front and back – and tell your friends. Local elections matter!