Election 2012: How to Request Absentee Ballots for College Students

Story by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC – For many college students, the coming election in November will be their first chance to vote. My daughter has just moved out-of-state to attend college and we weren’t sure how to apply for an absentee ballot. Here’s what I found out.

Send a Letter Requesting an Absentee Ballot

To get an absentee ballot, the registered voter (or a close relative or guardian) must make a request in writing – that is, send a letter.

There is no form to fill out or online request. You must write a letter to the Board of Elections and include all the necessary information.

What to Say in the Letter

If you are requesting a ballot for yourself, the letter must include the following:

Voter’s full name
Voter’s date of birth
Address where the ballot is to be mailed (if different from the voters residence)
Daytime phone number for voter
Signature of voter

If you are requesting a ballot on behalf of someone else (like your college-age child), you must also include the following information in the letter:

All voter’s information listed above
Your name
Your address
Your daytime phone number
Your relationship to the voter
Your signature in place of the voter’s signature

Who Can Get an Absentee Ballot

You can request an absentee ballot for yourself or a close relative.

A close relative is defined as a spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, step-parent, 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.

Visit Wake County Board of Elections for more information.

Mail Your Request by Tues, Oct 30

This letter must be mailed by Tuesday, October 30 to this address:

Wake County Board of Elections
ATTN: Absentee
PO Box 695
Raleigh, NC 27602

Mail Your Absentee Ballot by Nov 6

All ballots sent by mail must be postmarked no later than November 6 and must be received by the BOE by November 9 in order to be part of the official count.
Check address on ballot for where to send.

Hand Deliver Your Absentee Ballot

If you or your student is living locally and can get to downtown Raleigh, they can deliver the ballot in person to this address :

Wake County Board of Elections
337 S Salisbury St, 1st Floor
Raleigh, NC 27601

This must be delivered to Wake Co BOE by Monday November 6 by 5:00pm.

More Information – Wake County

For more info about absentee ballots, visit Wake County Board of Elections.

For Chatham County Voters

For voters living in Chatham County, the process is similar.

Visit Chatham County Board of Elections for all the details.