Overview

On this page, learn about absentee-by-mail voting, including options for military and overseas voters, and blind and visually impaired voters.

Absentee-By-Mail Voting

Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. Learn about the next election at Upcoming Election.

Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official NC Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:

  1. Online: Option 1 (will reopen in 2025) at the NC Absentee Ballot Portal.
  2. On paper: 2025 NC Absentee Ballot Request Form (download will become available in 2025).
    • After completing, submit the form to your county board of elections or in person or by mail via the U.S. Postal Service, DHL, FedEx, or UPS.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is one week before Election Day; the deadline differs for military and overseas citizen voters.

Track your absentee-by-mail ballot through the mail: Once you have requested your absentee ballot, you can track its status from printed to accepted by signing up online for status notifications through BallotTrax. BallotTrax will be available 30 days prior to the election.

Military and Overseas Voting

The federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows certain voters an expedited means to register and vote by mail-in ballot. Find more information at Military and Overseas Voting.

Accessible Absentee Voting

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.

12 Reasons Absentee Voting is Secure

Learn about the many processes in place to ensure absentee voting is secure and conducted according to state law.

Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail

Voting by mail in North Carolina takes three simple steps — requesting, completing, and returning a ballot. Find more information at Detailed Instructions to Vote By Mail.

FAQ

For answers to absentee-by-mail voting questions, visit FAQ: Voting By Mail.

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