Absentee Voting

Voting Absentee By Mail

When are Ballots Available?

G.S. 163-227.3 (a). states a board of elections shall provide absentee ballots 50 days prior to the date on which the election shall be conducted ..., in which case the board shall provide the ballots as quickly as possible. However, in the case of municipal elections, absentee ballots shall be made available no later than 30 days before an election. In every instance the board of elections shall exert every effort to provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed by the date on which absentee voting is authorized to commence.

G.S. 163-227.3 (b). Second Primary . - The board of elections shall provide absentee ballots of the kinds needed, as quickly as possible after the ballot information for a second primary has been determined.

How do I request a absentee ballot?

G.S. 163-230.1 (a). A qualified voter who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot under G.S. 163-226(a) or that voter's near realitive or verifiable legal quardian, shall request in writing an application for absentee ballots, so that the county board of elections receives the request not later than 5:00 P.M. in the Tuesday before the election. That written request shall be signed by the voter, the voter's near realtive, or the voter's verifiable legal guardian. (Please Note: Power of Attorney does not qualify)

"Near Relative" is legally defined as:

Spouse
Sibling
Parent
GrandParent
Child
GrandChild
Mother/Father-in-law
Daughter/Son-in-law
Stepparent or Stepchild

What do I include in my request for a ballot?

G.S. 163-230.1 The request for an absentee ballot must be in writing and received by the county board of elections by 5 pm on the Tuesday before the election.

Your request should include the following:

Name of the voter requesting ballot, as registered. (Please Print)
Residential address of voter in New Hanover County
Address to which the ballot is to be mailed, if other than the residential address.
Political Party Affiliation (Primary Election ONLY)
Date of Birth
Phone Number
Signature of Voter or verifable near relative. (If verifable near relative - please print name, address and include type of relationship)

Mail your request to:

New Hanover County Board of Elections, 230 Government Center Drive Suite 180, Wilmington NC 28403

Fax your request to: 910-798-7295

What if I have sickness or physical disability issues after the Tuesday deadline?

Call the Board of Elections office for more information at 910-798-7330.

How do I return the ballot to the Board of Election Office?

G.S. 163-231 (b). Transmitting Executed Absentee Ballots to County Board of Elections.-The sealed container-return envelope in which the executed absentee ballots have been placed shall be transmitted to the county board of elections who issued them as follows: All ballots issued under the provisions of Articles 20 and 21 of this Chapter shall be transmitted by mail or commercial courier service, at the voters expense, or delivered in person, or by the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day before the statewide primary, or general election or county bond election. If such ballots are received later than that hour, they shall not be accepted for unless federal law so requires.