Early Voting to Absentee Ballots for the 2020 General Election

The upcoming general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Buncombe County Election Services wants to make sure you have all the information you need. Buncombe County is committed to having a safe and secure election in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. For more information about precautions regarding COVID-19, click here.

Below is information about Early Voting, absentee ballots, voter registration, sample ballots, and more. If you have additional questions, contact Election Services at (828) 250-4200.

Register to Vote

First things first, find out if you are registered to vote.

You must be registered by Oct. 9, or use same-day registration during the early voting period (Oct. 15-31) to be eligible to vote. Photo ID is not required to vote. Not sure you are registered to vote? You can find out through North Carolina’s State Board of Elections Voter Search Tool.

Preview sample ballots:

Sample ballots can be downloaded using the Voter Search Tool provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. On the Voter Search Tool page, enter your information, click on your name, then scroll through to see your jurisdictions, polling place, and sample ballot.

Three ways to vote:

1. Early Voting

For the general election, Early Voting will run Oct. 15-31, and you can use same-day registration during those dates. Get a downloadable .pdf of the Early Voting schedule with dates and times. During the early voting period you can choose to vote at any early voting location below.

Locations: 

• Asheville Mall (Old McAlister’s entrance, near Dillard’s), 3 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 28805
• Asheville Outlet Mall (location TBD), 800 Brevard Road, Asheville, 28806
• Bee Tree Fire Department, 510 Bee Tree Road, Swannanoa, 28778
• Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain, 28711
• Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville, 28801
• Enka-Candler Branch Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, 28715
• Fairview Community Center, 1357 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, 28730
• Harrah's Cherokee Center (Civic Center), 87 Haywood St., Asheville, 28801
• Land-Of Sky Regional Council, 339 New Leicester Hwy # 140, Asheville, 28806
• Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester, 28748
• Reynolds Village, 50 N Merrimon Ave #107, Woodfin, 28804
• Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road, Asheville, 28803
• Turtle Creek Shopping Center, 23 Turtle Creek Dr., Asheville, 28803
• Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights, Asheville, 28804
• West Asheville Community Center, 970 Haywood Rd, Asheville, 28806
• Weaverville Town Hall, 30 S Main St., Weaverville, 28787

Check out the Wait Map before you head out for Early Voting.

During scheduled Early Voting times, we offer a wait map. In real time, it tells you how many voters are in line at our location. The wait map will only be available during Early Voting. Make the most of your visit by checking out the wait map before you head out the door.

2. Absentee By-Mail

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response the North Carolina State Board of Elections is reminding North Carolinians that all voters can vote by mail during every election, casting a ballot without leaving the comfort of home. No excuse is necessary. The State Board Office and Task Force are discussing ways to make voting by mail easier, while making sure that the 100 county boards of elections stand ready to process an expected increase in mail-in ballots. If you, or someone you know, will be unavailable to vote in person, there is information you need to know to ensure your vote is counted.

For active duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad:

You will need to go to FVAP.gov or ncsbe.gov/voting-options/military-overseas-voting and follow the absentee ballot instructions to receive an absentee ballot. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4200 or visit buncombecounty.org/vote.

For all others wishing to receive an absentee ballot:

New: As of Sept. 1, 2020, North Carolina voters may request an absentee ballot completely online.

The State Board of Elections has collaborated with Democracy Live to introduce the online Absentee Ballot Request Portal to assist any North Carolina registered voter in requesting an absentee ballot. The portal also allows military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters to request and return their absentee ballot online.

Anyone wishing to request an absentee ballot may do so for any reason as long as they complete a 2020 North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form. If a voter is unable to print the form at the link provided, they may pick one up at the election services office at 77 McDowell St, Asheville 28801 or call (828) 250-4200 and we will mail one. Return the request in one of the following ways:

• Mail it to: P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
• Hand deliver it to the dropbox located in the entryway of our office at 77 McDowell St., Asheville, 28801
• Email the form to elections@buncombecounty.org
• Fax the form to (828) 250-6262

The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot Request Form is Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, at 5 p.m. We are currently accepting absentee request forms and voters are encouraged to return the form earlier than the deadline.  

Note: There is no need to complete multiple absentee request forms.

Once you have received and completed your ballot, you can return it to us in one of the following ways-

• By mail-Absentee ballots can be mailed to our office at P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, and received by Nov. 12, at 5 p.m.
• At an early voting site-Absentee ballots can be returned at an early voting site during the early voting period, but not a polling location on Election Day. Ballots returned at an early voting site must be delivered to the election official at the check-in station.
• In-person-We now have a drop-off area in our parking lot at 77 McDowell St. where absentee ballots can be returned. Simply follow the signs to the side of the building and an absentee specialist will come out to assist you. The drop off area will be open through Election Day (Nov. 3), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website. 

Special Note: For the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election, only one witness will be required when voting an absentee by-mail ballot.

Near relative exceptions

From Oct. 28-Nov. 2, a voter’s near relative may come into the office during office hours, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m., to fill out an absentee request form for a voter who is sick or disabled who did not previously request an absentee ballot. The request will be processed immediately and the ballot handed to the near relative to take to the voter.  These ballots have the same deadlines as stated above.

The following qualify as a near relative: spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, in-laws, stepparent, stepchild, or verifiable legal guardian.

Session Law 2019-239 made several changes to the absentee voting process. Changes include:

• An absentee request form is now valid only if returned to the county board of elections by the voter, the voter’s near relative or legal guardian, or a Multi-partisan Assistance Team (MAT).
• If a voter needs help completing the request form due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, and a near relative or legal guardian is not available, the voter may get help from another person, who must list their name and address on the form.

For any additional information or questions contact us at (828) 250-4200.

3. Election Day

On Election Day, polls are open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. As long as you are in line by 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to vote.

One of the most common questions Election Services hears is, “Where do I vote on Election Day?” Early Voting sites are different from Election Day polling places because voters must go to their assigned polling places. If you need help finding your voting location, enter your name at the Voter Search Tool. You can also enter your address at discover.buncombecounty.org and click the voting icon on the left-hand side of the page.

Curbside Voting

Another feature Buncombe County Election Services offers is Curbside Voting for those who are unable to go inside due to age or disability. Just pull up to the Curbside Voting sign, and an election worker will come out and help you. Curbside voting is available during Early Voting and on Election Day at all voting locations.

If you have any additional questions, please call (828) 250-4200.