Absentee Voting

Absentee Request Deadline

Requests for the 2026 primary election must be received by Tuesday, February 17 at 5 pm.

Request a Ballot Online

Registered voters can request their absentee ballot online through the NC Absentee Ballot Portal.

• Request a Ballot

Print an Absentee Request Form

Registered voters can use the NC Absentee Request Form to request a ballot. The form cannot be returned electronically; it must be submitted by mail or in-person to the Board of Elections.

• 2026 Absentee Ballot Request Form (PDF)

How to Return Your Absentee Request Form

The form may be returned by the voter, the voter’s near relative or verifiable legal guardian, a Multipartisan Assistance Team, or if the voter needs assistance due to a disability, any person may return the request form, according to the voter’s instruction:

• In-person to the county board of elections
• By U.S. Postal Service (PO Box 2, Bolivia, NC, 28422)
• DHL, FedEx, or UPS (75 Stamp Act Drive NE, Building H, Bolivia, NC, 28422)

Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID OR an ID Exception Form inside the photo ID sleeve that is on the back of their ballot envelope. Learn more about voter ID.

Mark your ballot by filling in the rectangle next to the candidate(s) of your choice using a blue or black pen. Vote your ballot in the presence of two witnesses OR a notary public. The witnesses or notary should observe you mark the ballot, not see how you vote.

Seal your ballot in the return envelope that came with your ballot packet.

1. The voter must sign the return envelope under "Voter, sign here".
2. The witnesses or notary must sign the envelope. Each witness will sign their name, print their name, and provide their full address.
3. If you received assistance with your ballot, the assistant must sign their name, print their name, and provide their full address on the envelope.

Return Your Ballot by Mail

For the primary election, your ballot must be received by the board of elections by 7:30 pm on Election Day, March 3, 2026. 

The United States Postal Service recommends that you mail your ballot at least one week before the election. 

Return Your Ballot in Person

You can return your ballot to our office no later than 7:30 pm on Election Day, March 3. You can also return your ballot to an in-person early voting site. You may not return your ballot to a polling place on Election Day. If your ballot is returned in person, the person delivering the ballot is required to complete a return log.

Who can return a ballot?

According to state law, the ballot can only be returned by:

1. The voter or the voter's near relative or legal guardian. A near relative is your: Spouse, brother, sister, parent, child, stepchild, grandparent, grandchild, stepparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, or son-in-law.
2. A Multipartisan Assistance Team, upon request of a voter who needs assistance due to a disability. The assistant must complete the Voter Assistant Certification section of the envelope.
3. A person who assisted upon request of the voter, due to the voter's disability. The assistant must complete the Voter Assistant Certification section of the envelope.

If you are a blind or visually impaired voter in North Carolina, you can request, mark, and return an accessible absentee ballot online through a system that is compatible with screen readers and that allows for a digital or typed signature. Learn more at Accessible Absentee Voting.

If you live at a facility such as a hospital, clinic, or nursing home, find details about receiving assistance with mail-in voting and other services provided by a multipartisan assistance team (MAT) at Assistance for Voters in Care Facilities. View the Multipartisan Assistance Team Flyer (PDF).

Complete this form to request a Multipartisan Assistance Team visit to your facility.