Absentee Dates and Deadlines

For more information on requesting and returning your absentee ballot, continue reading below.

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To receive an absentee-by-mail ballot you must complete an Absentee Ballot Request Form for each election. You can now visit the North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request portal to complete your request. You can find a Absentee Ballot Request Form on our website or visit our office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville NC 28801. You can also call 828-250-4200 and we will mail you one.

Return the request form in one of the following ways:

• Mail it to: P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
• Hand deliver it to our office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801

If it is after the request deadline and a voter experiences a sudden or unexpected illness or disability that prevents them from going to a polling location, there are exceptions which would allow a near relative to obtain a ballot and deliver it to the voter. If you know a voter who requires this, please visit our office or call (828) 250-4200 for more information.

You can request a ballot for any election in the calendar year beginning on January 1. A separate request form must be submitted for each election, unless you have an illness or disability and request to be sent a ballot for all elections in that year

Ballots will be mailed to voters who have submitted a completed Absentee Ballot Request Form.

The envelope we send will contain your ballot, a return envelope, and instructions.

• YOU ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN YOUR BALLOT IN THE DESIGNATED RETURN ENVELOPE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FIELDS CORRECTLY COMPLETED FOR YOUR BALLOT TO COUNT. The ballot return envelope has spaces for the signature of the voter and two witnesses, as well as the witnesses’ addresses. You are required to have either two witnesses with addresses and signatures OR a valid notary signature. If we receive your ballot early enough, we will make every attempt possible to contact you to correct any deficiencies or missing information.
• Ballots may only be returned by the voter, the voters near relative, or the legal guardian. If you choose to return the ballot in person, it does not require postage.

Absentee-By-Mail Voters

• Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable ID when returning their ballot, or they may complete an ID Exception Form. The voter places the photocopy of ID or ID Exception Form in a pocket on the outside of the ballot container envelope, which is then placed in an outer return envelope to protect the privacy of the voter.

Acceptable Photo IDs for Voting

Any of the following that is unexpired, or expired for one year or less:

• North Carolina driver’s license
• State ID from the NCDMV (also called "non-operator ID")
• Driver's license or non-driver ID from another state, District of Columbia, or U.S. territory (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election)
• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport card
• North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections (see Get a Free Voter Photo ID)
• College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)
• State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections (see box below)

Note: A voter 65 or older may use an expired form of acceptable ID if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following, regardless of whether the ID contains an expiration or issuance date:

• Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government
• Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the State of North Carolina or the federal government
• ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the State of North Carolina for a public assistance program (Note: Although this is an acceptable form of ID under North Carolina law, the State Board is not aware of any such ID in circulation that contains a photo. All IDs for voting are required to have a photo.)

Ballots can be returned in one of the following ways:

1. By Mail
   • Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked on or before election day. If mailing your ballot close to the deadline, we recommend going into a post office and asking a post office official at the counter to postmark your ballot envelope as received. Otherwise, please mail your ballot at least two weeks prior to the election, based on a history of missing postmarks and delays. Election law mandates ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30pm the day of the election.
2. In Person to an Early Voting Site
   • Ballots can be returned by the voter or near relative to any early voting site during early voting hours of operation. You must check in with an election official inside the precinct, which may mean waiting in line. You will hand your ballot to an election official at a computer station. During Early Voting, we will have a wait map available on our website so you can see the number of people in line.
3. In Person to the Elections Office
   • Ballots can be returned by the voter or near relative to our office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville NC 28801 during office hours, which are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. You will need to fill out a short log sheet when handing your ballot in to an Election Services employee. The deadline to return your ballot to the office is 7:30PM on Election Day.