Voting by Mail


EVERY VOTE COUNTS-VERSION2

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Orange County offers absentee voting by mail to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote by mail rather than at a one-stop early voting site or on Election Day.

Registered voters may request a ballot through the Online Absentee Request Portal

Outside of the absentee request portal, by-mail civilian absentee ballot requests must be submitted on the State Absentee Ballot Request form and must be signed by the voter or a near relative who is making a request on behalf of a voter. Please read the instructions on the form carefully. Your request may be mailed (PO Box 220, Hillsborough 27278), emailed (vote@orangecountync.gov), faxed (919-644-3318) or hand delivered to our office (208 S Cameron St. Hillsborough 27278). We are currently accepting requests for absentee ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election and encourage you to send your request early.

Absentee Ballot Request Form

Voters who receive a mailed absentee ballot may still vote in person on Election Day or during early voting as long as the mailed absentee ballot was not returned.
REQUEST YOUR BALLOT NOW

Absentee Request Process PDF

Formulario de Solicitud para la Boleta del Voto en Ausencia  


Uniformed & Overseas Citizens

For rules and procedures regarding military and overseas voters, please go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.


Early Voting

Interested in voting at an early voting site in Orange County? Please visit our Early Voting page.


General Information

Submitting an Absentee Ballot Request

Submit an Absentee Ballot Request using one of the following options:

  • In person:
    208 S Cameron Street
    Hillsborough NC 27278
  • By Mail:
    P.O. Box 220
    Hillsborough, NC 27278
  • By Email: vote@orangecountync.gov
  • By Fax: 919-644-3318

Requests

A voter must submit a separate request for each election. Please see information on illness or disability for exception.


Eligibility

Who May Apply

Any registered Orange County voter or a near relative of a registered voter may request on the voter’s behalf. A near relative, as defined by law, is a:

  • Brother
  • Child
  • Daughter-in-Law
  • Father-in-Law
  • Grandchild
  • Grandparent
  • Mother-in-Law
  • Parent
  • Sister
  • Son-in-Law
  • Spouse
  • Stepchild
  • Stepparent
  • Verifiable Legal Guardian

Please note: Power-of-Attorney does not qualify as someone who may request ballots on a voter’s behalf.


Illness or Disability

While listing an excuse is no longer required for voting absentee by mail, if a voter is requesting a ballot due to a long term sickness or physical disability, and states this in their request, the request will be honored for the entire calendar year (when there are other elections within that year).


Availability

Ballots will be available by mail 50 days prior to a Primary Election , 60 days prior to a General November Election (even years), and 30 days prior to a Municipal Election (odd years).

When the time for mailing ballots begins, ballots are usually mailed out within two days of requests being received.


Deadlines

Deadline to Request Ballots

One week (7 days) prior to each election – the Tuesday prior to Election Day Tuesday.

Please note: 5 p.m. is the latest that requests can be accepted on the last day. Postmarks do not qualify.

Deadline to Return Ballots

Deadline is 5 p.m. Election Day. Please see extension exception in the following information:

  • Completed by-mail ballots must be returned to the Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. Election Day.
  • An extension is given for ballots postmarked by Election Day and received in the Elections office by the Friday following the Election.

By-Mail Absentee Voter

A by-mail absentee voter must have 1 witness in their presence as they complete their ballot and application envelope. Ballots will not be counted if returned without completed witness information.

Polls

Completed, witnessed absentee ballot envelopes may be returned to a one-stop site rather than the Board of Elections during the hours of Early Voting; however, absentee ballot envelopes may not be accepted on Election Day at the polls.