Translated by: Jessica Castro Alvarez
One of the important dates This election year is September 6, the day absentee ballots will be sent to voters. Although this date is quickly approaching, it is not too late to learn about absentee ballots and how to request one. There is still plenty of time to learn the information you need to vote before Election Day.
What is absentee voting or voting by mail?
Absentee voting, also known as mail-in ballots, gives voters the opportunity to vote without being present at the polls. Instead of being present at a voting location, tickets are sent to voters who request them. Voters fill out the necessary information and absentee ballots are sent to their respective electoral councils.
How do I request an absentee ballot?
Absentee ballots can be requested by North Carolina residents through the absentee voting portal found on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. This website asks users to choose the form that’s right for their situation and walks them through the process every step of the way.
Voters who are registered to vote in other states can look up their personal requirements to vote by mail.
When should I request my absentee vote?
“Sooner is better,” said Matthew Snyder, director of the Watauga County Board of Elections. “Nobody knows that the longer you wait, the more problems there will be with the mail. The big difference this year is: absentee ballots by mail must be received by our office before 7:30 p.m. on the night of Election Day.”
The last day to request an absentee vote is October 29 at 5 p.m. Requesting a ballot early is the best way to ensure it can be submitted without difficulty.
How do I fill out a no-show ticket?
Instructions for filling out the ticket can be found on the ticket itself and also on the NCSBE website. According to the NCSBE — North Carolina’s state board of elections — it says that an absentee ticket requires witnesses. Witnesses must watch the voter fill out their ticket and sign the envelope to ensure the person’s identity. This is necessary to maintain the security and legality of the electoral process.
Similar to in-person elections, absentee voting requires voter ID. To complete this step, the voter must send a photocopy of a valid voter ID and put it inside the mail ticket sleeve which must be labeled.
What are the new requirements for a voter ID?
All voters will be required to present some type of photo ID or fill out the photo ID exception form when they arrive at their polling place.
Types of valid identifications They include a state driver’s license, a United States passport, and an AppCard, which is a college ID that has been approved for voting.
Senior Public Relations Director Anna Oakes wrote in an email, “AppCards, printed after August 10, 2023, are effective as a form of voter identification. Cards printed before are not accommodating to the new rules.”
Can I get a new AppCard that can be used as voting ID?
Students can have a “electoral replacement” on your AppCard to ensure you meet voter ID requirements. Interested students can email the AppCard office to receive the form and pay the $25 fee to replace the card.
What if there is a problem? Can I be excluded from presenting identification to vote?
Voters may opt out of presenting a photo ID if any of the NCSBE Identification Exceptions is applied to them. To opt out, voters must fill out a photo ID exception form and vote using a provisional ticket.
What is a provisional ticket?
Provisional tickets are used in case there is a problem with the voter’s information, such as lack of registration, names that do not match, unknown address or a change that has not been reported. Provisional tickets are also used when a voter wants to opt out of presenting their photo ID. These tickets are set aside while the local election board decides the voter’s eligibility.
Can I see the status of my provisional ticket?
Each person who uses a provisional ticket will have a provisional identification number, which can be used by the provisional registration to see the status of the provisional ticket.
“You can also check 10 days after the election to see if the provisional ticket was counted,” Snyder says. “If people have problems with the website or have questions.”
Where do I go if I have any questions?
Snyder encourages voters with questions to dial the Watauga County Board of Elections at 828-265-8061 or dial their respective county board of elections.
“We look forward to assisting our voters this year and helping in any way we can,” Snyder said.
For issues related specifically to AppCards, students can contact the Appcard office by email at appcardoffice@appstate.edu.
Oakes wrote and advises that the sooner students can contact the office, the more likely their problem will be resolved in time for them to vote.
Approaching election day, there are several tasks that voters need to complete. Snyder says most of the problems his office faces result from voters waiting to complete tasks by their deadline. He recommends finishing early and asking for assistance to ensure a smooth voting experience.
