Here’s every step in NC’s absentee process, from requesting your ballot to counting votes
Absentee voting has been a feature of North Carolina elections for decades. This year, however, it may be even more important as voters displaced or otherwise affected by Hurricane Helene seek to cast their ballot amid the destruction.
In recent years (and especially in the last few weeks since Helene hit), misinformation has spread about the safety and integrity of absentee voting.
To get a closer look at the process, The News & Observer watched the absentee ballot mailing and receipt process at the Wake County Board of Elections office on Oct. 8.
While processes can vary slightly between counties, state law broadly requires that all absentee ballots be dealt with the same way throughout the state.
Here’s every step of the absentee process, from requesting the ballot, to having your vote counted on Election Day.
1. Voter requests an absentee ballot
Absentee ballots are only sent to registered voters in North Carolina who request them.
Some states, like California, automatically send absentee ballots in the mail to all registered voters. Here, however, voters must request an absentee ballot through the state’s online request form or by filling out an official paper request form.
Voters requesting an absentee ballot must sign their request and include their date of birth and either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Election workers will check and validate a voter’s registration before mailing them an absentee ballot.
A voter’s near relative or legal guardian may also submit the request on the voter’s behalf.
2. Poll workers pack and mail envelope
Poll workers pack envelopes to send to voters containing their ballot and instructions on how to fill it out.
Using a voter’s address, poll workers determine which of the over 2,300 ballot styles they will use to vote.
Each packet includes a container envelope which voters will use to include their ballot and a photocopy of their ID. If voters don’t have an ID, they can fill out an ID exception form, which is also included in the packet.
The completed packets are then mailed to voters across the state.
3. Voter fills out absentee ballot
Once they receive their absentee ballot in the mail, a voter marks their preferences just as they would if they were voting in-person.
However, state law requires absentee voters to have two witnesses or a notary present when they fill out their ballot. Those witnesses will also need to sign the envelope.
As mentioned earlier, voters will also need to include a photocopy of an acceptable form of voter ID in their ballot envelope or fill out an ID exception form.
4. Voter delivers absentee ballot to county elections board
Voters using an absentee ballot can either deliver it by mail or in-person at their county board of elections office.
All absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. State election officials recommend sending absentee ballots at least a week before the deadline to ensure the postal service delivers them in time.
Voters from the 25 counties in the federally declared disaster area from Hurricane Helene can deliver their absentee ballots to any county board of election office in the state — not just the one in their home county.
All voters who vote absentee can track their ballot using an online service called BallotTrax.
5. Election workers conduct initial audit of absentee ballots
Once ballots are received, election workers check for any immediate deficiencies in the envelope. If there are any rips, signs of tampering or loose or unsealed ballots in the envelope, staff can present the packet to the county board for inspection.
Correctly returned envelopes are then checked for ID documentation. If none is provided, staff will reach out to the voter to request more information.
Staff also check that voters have signed their container envelope and included two witnesses or a notary. If any of that information is missing or filled out in the wrong section, it would be presented to the board.
If the voter’s signature is the only thing missing, staff can send a cure certification letter to the voter and present that ballot to the board once they receive the completed letter.
6. Bipartisan county board members check and approve absentee ballots
After the staff audit, bipartisan county board of election members check and approve absentee ballots at weekly public meetings.
County boards of elections are currently structured to have three Democrats and two Republicans.
Individual board members check once again that each ballot includes an ID, signature and witnesses. Any special cases must be considered by the full board before they’re approved.
For example, any voter who completed an ID exception form will have their ballot considered by the full board. Those ballots can only be rejected if the board unanimously decides that the voter provided false information on the form.
7. Election workers open envelopes and prepare ballots for processing
The approved ballots are taken to election workers, who unseal the container envelopes and straighten the ballots so they can be
entered into the counting machine.
8. Bipartisan board members deliver ballots to counting machine
Board members from each party then deliver the ballots to a high-speed counter, where they are scanned.
However, votes are not actually tabulated until Election Day.
9. Ballots are sealed in boxes
The voted ballots are sealed in boxes, with seals signed by each board member. Those boxes are then stored in a ballot cage, which is under 24-hour video surveillance and requires employee badge access and an alarm code.
10. Reports are tabulated and reported on Election Day
The county board will meet at 5 p.m. on Election Day, where it will tabulate the absentee votes. Those results will then be uploaded at 7:30 p.m. on the State Board of Elections’ website.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Here’s every step in NC’s absentee process, from requesting your ballot to counting votes."
