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Absentee by Mail FAQs
May any registered Wake County voter vote absentee by mail?
Yes.
How do I find information regarding the photo ID requirement for voting?
Voters will now be asked to present a valid photo identification when voting in person. If you do not have a valid photo ID card, you may obtain one from your county board of elections prior to the election, through the end of the early voting period.
If you do not have a valid photo ID card on Election Day, you may still vote and have your vote counted by signing an affidavit of reasonable impediment (or "Photo ID Exception Form") as to why you have not presented a valid photo ID. The Exception Form can also be used if you have a religious objection to being photographed or are a victim of a recently declared natural disaster.
As an alternative, if you don't have your ID when you vote, you can still vote and then bring your valid photo ID to your county board of elections by 5 p.m. on the ninth day after Election Day (or the sixth day after Election Day for September or October local elections).
If you vote by mail, then you must include a photocopy of a valid photo ID when returning your ballot. You may also complete the Absentee Photo ID Exception Form that is provided with your absentee ballot materials.
A list of all types of ID that can be used for voting is available on the State Board of Elections Voter ID webpage. For information on how to get a free ID, see Get a Free Voter Photo ID.
I will be away on Election Day. How do I vote by absentee ballot?
Any registered voter in Wake County may request an absentee ballot or may vote at an Early Voting site. No excuse is required.
Can I still use the paper request form instead of the portal?
Yes. The Absentee Request Form is available for you to complete, and return to the Wake County Board of Elections before the absentee request deadline.
Where do I return my completed absentee ballot request form?
Mail your form to:
Wake County Board of Elections
Attn: Absentee
PO Box 695
Raleigh, NC 27602
Deliver your form in-person to:
Wake County Board of Elections Operations Center
1200 N. New Hope Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
May someone request an absentee ballot for me?
A voter’s near relative may request an absentee ballot for the voter. In lieu of the voter’s signature, the request must include the requester’s signature, address, daytime phone number and relationship to the voter.
May I request an absentee ballot by phone or email?
Your request must be in writing on the approved form, signed by the voter or the voter's near relative.
Do I have to request an absentee ballot for each election?
Yes. However, if you have a continuous or expected illness or disability, you may request an absentee ballot be sent to you for all elections that you are eligible for in that calendar year. The absentee ballots will be mailed separately at the appropriate time.
On the absentee ballot return envelope for a primary election, you will have the opportunity to request a ballot for the 2nd Primary if you are eligible.
When is the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot?
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before an election.
If I request an absentee ballot, can I change my mind and vote in person?
Requesting an absentee ballot will not prevent you from voting in person during Early Voting or on Election Day. If you do choose to vote in person, please trash or destroy your absentee ballot; do not return it to the Board of Elections.
Why is my request not showing on the NC Voter Lookup search?
Your absentee ballot request will not show on the voter search tool on our website because it is considered confidential information. Please contact us and the status of your request can be provided to you.
If I make a mistake, can I request a replacement absentee ballot?
Yes. You can request a replacement absentee ballot to be sent to you, if needed. Call or email the Wake County Board of Elections for details:
- (919) 404-4040
- absentee@wake.gov
When is the deadline for returning an absentee ballot?
An absentee ballot shall be counted as timely if it is received by the County Board of Elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
What may a person in possession of a Power of Attorney do for an absentee voter?
A person in possession of a Power of Attorney for an individual is not permitted to apply for voter registration, to vote in person, or to vote by absentee ballot for the individual.
May another person return my absentee ballot for me?
Yes, if that person is your spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, or legal guardian, they may return it to the Wake County Board of Elections Office.
You may, due to disability, ask someone other than a near relative (outlined above) to return your ballot. The individual returning your sealed ballot must sign the Voter Assistant Certification on the back of the Ballot Envelope.
If hand-delivering, it must be logged in when delivered. Dropboxes are not permitted under North Carolina Law.
What is the postage needed to return my ballot by mail?
Equivalent to $1.77 in postage.
May two people return their ballots in the same envelope?
No. The returned ballot envelope is specific to each voter and must contain that voter’s ballot.
May I hand-deliver my voted absentee ballot to the Board of Elections office?
Yes. Your voted absentee ballot, sealed in the container envelope with the application and witness portions completed, must be in the Wake County Board of Elections Office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
If hand-delivering, it must be logged in when delivered. Dropboxes are not permitted under North Carolina Law.
May I hand-deliver my voted absentee ballot to an Early Voting location?
Yes. You must stand in line with the rest of the voters until you get inside. Once you are inside you must go to the registration/check-in table. You will hand your voted absentee ballot, sealed in the container envelope with the application and witness portions completed, to the elections official and will be required to fill out an absentee ballot return log. Once logged, you will exit through the same exit as the other voters exiting. This is the safest way for both voters and election officials. If hand-delivering, it must be logged in when delivered. Dropboxes are not permitted under North Carolina Law.
May I hand-deliver my voted absentee ballot to an Election Day polling place?
No. Hand-delivered absentee ballots, sealed in the container envelope with the application and witness portions completed, may be submitted to the Wake County Board of Elections Office and must be received by the 7:30 p.m. deadline on or before Election Day.
May I mail my ballot to the Wake County Board of Elections on Election Day?
It is recommended that the ballot be mailed several days in advance of Election Day. An absentee ballot shall be counted as timely if it is received by the County Board of Elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
A postmark on or before Election Day does not establish timely receipt of a ballot delivered after the deadline (7:30 p.m. on Election Day).
When will my absentee ballot be counted?
The mail-in absentee ballots are counted at the Election Day Board Meeting, but the results are not posted until after the close of the polls at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
I heard that if I vote absentee by mail, my vote may not get counted. Is that true?
NO. Your vote will be counted on Election Day along with the ballots cast in the precincts.
Where can I learn more about absentee voting for military and overseas voters?
Visit voting information for military and overseas voters at these websites:
Still have questions or need to know where to send your documents?
