Request your absentee or mail ballot in North Carolina

• Earliest day to apply: January 1
• Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
• Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
• Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
• Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day

1. Visit the North Carolina absentee ballot website.
2. Fill out all of the required information.
3. Hit save or submit when you are done.
4. The deadline to apply online is 7 days before Election Day.

1. Download the North Carolina absentee ballot application.
2. Fill out all of the required fields.
3. Print the application.
4. Sign and date your application. This is very important.
5. Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
6. If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
7. Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.

1. Visit your local election office.
2. Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
3. Fill out all of the required fields.
4. Sign and date your application.
5. The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.

1. Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
2. Sign and date the outside envelope.
3. Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
4. If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
5. If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
6. If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.

• ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:

  You must include one of the following with your application:

  • North Carolina driver’s license OR non-driver ID card number
  • Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
• ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:

  You must sign your ballot in the presence of a notary public or two witnesses age 18 or older. Your notary public or two witnesses should observe that you sign the ballot, not how you vote. You must also include a copy of an eligible photo ID. If you are unable to provide a copy of a photo ID, complete the Photo ID Exception form.

  A candidate in the election may not serve as witness unless the candidate is the voter's spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild.

Track your ballot here: North Carolina absentee ballot tracker

Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.

Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.

Emergency Ballot Rules

Dates & Deadlines

• Emergency ballot request ends 5PM 1 day before Election Day
• Emergency ballot return deadline is 5PM Election Day

Contact your local election office