RALEIGH, N.C. — We are just 42 days away from the Presidential Election and the voting process has begun.
On Monday, the North Carolina State Board of Elections held a virtual meeting for media partners in the state discussing absentee ballots and how voters can still request one.
As of September 23, out of the 207, 600 absentee ballots requested for this election, the State Board of Elections says 102 ballots have been returned by military and overseas voters.
All of the ballots had to be reprinted to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name to comply with a court order.
RELATED: North Carolina's absentee ballot release was delayed by RFK Jr. ruling, but will begin next week
Karen Brinson-Bell, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections shared how past elections ballot request numbers looked different.
"At this point, in 2020 nearly 252,000 ballots had been returned but of course, voting started earlier in 2020 because there were no delays due to ballot reprinting and the COVID pandemic led to many more people voting by mail," Brinson-Bell said.
Brinson-Bell did not share how much reprinting cost the state board of elections but Guilford County estimates this process will cost taxpayers about $20,000 in printing and any overtime for staff.
"Having been a county elections director, I understand what they are facing right now. They had hoped to already be further along in getting the the rush of absentee ballots out the door however, they'll still get the work done, but it just means that the hours may be longer, the days. We may be working more weekends to make sure that all of this happens," Brinson-Bell said.
Can you vote in-person after requesting an absentee ballot?
If you requested an absentee ballot and decide you want to vote in person, you can. You'll need to destroy your current absentee ballot in order to do so.
Are absentee ballots safe?
The State Board of Elections ensures that absentee ballot voting is safe in North Carolina. Officials must abide by many laws and processes to ensure security in the absentee voting process. However, election officials encourage voters to choose the voting method that is best for their schedule.
To find out ways on submitting and returning an absentee ballot, click or tap HERE. Remember to complete, sign, and submit your request online at votebymail.ncsbe.gov.
How can I track my absentee ballot?
All registered North Carolina Voters may use this option to request an absentee by mail ballot. Voters can use the Ballot-Trax service to find out where their ballot is in the submission process.
To track the status of your ballot, click or tap HERE.
What is provisional voting?
A voter receives a provisional ballot when questions arise about:
- The voter’s qualification to vote,
- The voter’s eligibility to vote in a given election, or
- The voter’s eligibility to vote a specific ballot style.
Important Dates to remember:
Oct. 11: Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.). Voter registration FAQ
Oct. 17: In-person early voting begins; same-day registration available.
Oct. 29: Absentee ballot request deadline (5 p.m.). However, election officials recommend requesting and returning your ballot sooner to ensure it can be completed and received by the county board of elections by the return deadline.
Nov. 2: In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.).
Nov. 5: General Election Day
Nov. 5: Absentee ballot return deadline (7:30 p.m.).