Absentee Voting by Mail
Any registered voter is authorized to vote by mail an absentee ballot in any primary or election conducted by the County Board of Elections.
The voter or the voter’s near relative may send a signed written request to the county board of elections office beginning 50 days prior to election day. Written requests must be received in the office no later than the Tuesday prior to election day.
The VOTER or voter's NEAR RELATIVE (spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, step-parent, step-child) or verifiable legal guardian may request an absentee ballot by mail or in-person.
If the voter is qualified, an application and ballots will be mailed to the voter after the receipt of the written request. The voted ballot must be received in the County Board of Elections office by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election in order to be counted.
Time Frame for Requests
Make the written request beginning 50 days prior to but not later than the Tuesday prior to election day.
Required Information
Request From VOTER: Should include all of the following: Name, Residential Address, Date of Birth, the Address to mail Absentee Ballot to, and Voter's Signature.
Request From NEAR RELATIVE: Should include all of the following: Voter's Name, Voter's Residential Address, Voter's Date of Birth, Address to mail Absentee Ballot to, Near Relative's Name, Near Relative's Residential Address, Near Relative's Relationship to Voter, and Near Relative's Signature.
Mail the Request To:
New Hanover County Board of Elections
230 Government Center Drive, Ste 180
Wilmington, NC 28403
Additional Information Needed:
If the individual wishing to vote absentee by mail, registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003 and did not submit one of the following acceptable forms of identification with the registration application, then a copy of one of the following forms of identification must be sent with the mailed-in ballot:
- A current and valid photo identification;
- A current utility bill, showing name and address;
- A bank statement, showing name and address;
- A government check, showing name and address;
- A paycheck, showing name and address; or
- Another government document showing name and address.