Where’s my absentee ballot? What to do if you haven’t received your NC ballot by mail
Thousands of voters in North Carolina were expecting absentee ballots in early September but didn’t get them.
Here’s what to know about requesting, receiving and submitting absentee ballots in North Carolina.
When will I get my absentee ballot in NC?
Absentee ballots for military and overseas voters who requested them were sent on Friday, Sept. 20, according to a news release from NCSBE.
Mail-in ballots for all other voters who requested them are scheduled to be sent on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
The state’s original deadline for mailing absentee ballots was Sept. 6. County boards of elections across the state were ready to send them that week, but a legal battle between former third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the N.C. State Board of Elections delayed the process, The News & Observer reported.
How to track your absentee ballot in NC
Once you have requested your absentee ballot, you can track its status by signing up online for status notifications through BallotTrax.
BallotTrax will be available 30 days prior to the election. To register, you’ll need to enter your first and last name, date of birth and zip code.
I never received my ballot. What do I do?
If you never received you absentee ballot, you can contact NCSBE at 919-814-0700 or elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov.
You can also contact your county’s board of elections directly. To find contact information for your county, visit vt.ncsbe.gov/BOEInfo.
How to request an absentee ballot in NC
Registered voters can request absentee ballots by filling out a request form. You can:
1. Use the online North Carolina Absentee Portal by visiting votebymail.ncsbe.gov/app/home.
2. Print the form and submit it to your county’s board of elections in-person or by mail. The form is available in English and Spanish from ncsbe.gov/voting.
The deadline to request absentee ballots is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Can someone request an absentee ballot for you in NC?
A near relative or legal guardian can request a ballot for you, according to NCSBE. A near relative can be your:
- Spouse
- Child or stepchild
- Brother or sister
- Parent or stepparent
- Mother/father-in-law
- Son/daughter-in-law
- Grandparent/grandchild
Anyone requesting a ballot on behalf of a voter must provide their name, address and relationship to the voter on the absentee request form.
How to return your absentee ballot in NC
Absentee ballots can be returned:
- By mail.
- By commercial courier service, such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS.
- In person at your county board of elections office.
- In person at an open early voting site in your county. You can find early voting sites in your county by using the Early Voting Site Search.
You may not return an absentee ballot to a polling place on Election Day.
Staff reporter Kyle Ingram contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
