Vote Absentee by Mail
Absentee voting by mail (NO EXCUSE NEEDED) is available to all registered Wake County voters.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ?
All requests for absentee ballots must be made in writing. We may not accept requests by phone or e-mail (for civilian requests). Mail or hand-deliver a written request to the Wake County Board of Elections.
WHAT MUST I INCLUDE IN MY WRITTEN REQUEST?
- Voter’s name
- Voter’s current WAKE COUNTY residence address
- Voter’s date of birth
- Address where ballot should be MAILED (if different from the Wake County residence address)
- A daytime phone number (in case we have questions or need additional information – for office use only)
- Voter’s signature
- For a PRIMARY Election, if you or a near relative are registered UNAFFILIATED, please indicate if you wish to receive a Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Non-Partisan ballot.
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.
A near relative, as defined by law, is a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, stepchild, or verifiable legal guardian.
NOTE: A person in possession of a Power of Attorney for an individual is not granted the authority to apply for voter registration, to vote in person, or to vote by absentee ballot for the individual.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY REQUEST FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
BY MAIL
Wake County Board of Elections
Attn: Absentee
PO Box 695
Raleigh NC 27602
DELIVER IN PERSON
Wake County Board of Elections
337 Salisbury St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF MY ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST?
Determine the status of your absentee ballot.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
All written requests must be received in our office by 5:00 p.m. on the TUESDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY (one week before the election).
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR RETURNING MY VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOT?
All civilian absentee must be received in our office by 5:00 p.m. on the MONDAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY (the day before the election).
§ 163‑231. Voting absentee ballots and transmitting them to the county board of elections.
(b) Transmitting Executed Absentee Ballots to County Board of Elections. – The sealed container‑return envelope in which 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 by commercial courier service, at the voter's 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 ballots are received later than that hour, they shall not be accepted unless (i) federal law so requires, (ii) if ballots issued under Article 20 of this Chapter are postmarked by the day of the statewide primary or general election or county bond election and are received by the county board of elections not later than three days after the election by 5:00 p.m., or (iii) if ballots issued under Article 21 of this Chapter are received by the county board of elections not later than three days after the election by 5:00 p.m. Ballots issued under Article 20 of this Chapter not postmarked by the day of the election shall not be accepted by the county board of elections.
HOW MAY I LEARN MORE ABOUT ABSENTEE VOTING FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS?
Visit the State Board of Elections website or the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.