Vote by Mail
Absentee voting allows registered voters to get their ballot in the mail. While the terms “absentee voting” and “mail-in voting” are semantically different, the phrases are often used interchangeably. According to reporting by the Washington Post, “…’at the end of the day, these are systems for delivering ballots to voters.'”
Eligibility to vote by mail
North Carolina is a “no excuse” state meaning that any voter registered in NC can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. Some states require an excuse to be eligible for absentee voting, including New York, Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. To request an absentee ballot and vote by mail in another state, check that state’s absentee voting information.
Movement Advancement Project. "Availability of No-Excuse Absentee Voting." https://www.mapresearch.org/democracy-maps/absentee_requirements. Aug. 07, 2024.
Completing your absentee ballot
Once you receive your ballot in the mail, you will want to fill out the ballot and certificate on the envelope. Mark the ballot with your choices in the presence of one adult witness. Make sure all parts of the certificate form on the envelope are filled out, including your signature, and then insert the ballot in the envelope and seal it.
After you have sealed the envelope, you will choose your return option. You can return your ballot in person to the county board of elections or mail it there, but it must be postmarked by Election Day. You may also return your completed absentee ballot to any Early Voting site during operating hours.
If you are mailing your ballot, USPS recommends “that domestic, non-military voters mail their completed ballots before Election Day and at least one week prior to your state’s deadline. We also recommend that voters request ballots at the earliest point allowable but no later than 15 days prior to the election date.” For more information, visit the USPS website.