North Carolina's military and overseas voters can start looking out for their absentee ballots come September 20, a decision mandated by the State Board of Elections to adhere to federal law. As reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, it's a move to stay in lockstep with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), necessitating ballots to be dispatched 45 days prior to an election — placing the critical date at September 21 for the 2024 general election.
Due to a recent snag following legal challenges, non-military absentee ballots are scheduled for a slightly postponed dispatch date of September 24. Upon receiving instruction from the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals, election officials were mandated to remove the We The People party from the presidential ballot, thus delaying their original plan to send them on September 6.
The State Board's latest information indicates more than 166,000 North Carolina voters, which includes over 13,600 military and overseas voters, have already put in their ballot requests. The Board encourages all voters wishing to vote by mail to make their ballot requests well before the October 29 deadline to ensure timely completion and return by Election Day, November 5.
With the election nearing, county boards and State Board staff rushed to reconfigure the ballot sans the We The People ticket, devising contingency plans to ensure the ballots could be delivered as soon as they were practicable. Special printers have been stationed statewide to help expedite the print for military and overseas citizen ballots facing delays from their original printing orders. North Carolina boasts nearly 2,350 unique ballot styles this election, a testament to the complexity of America's democratic tapestry.
Military and overseas voters, nearly 90% of whom prefer electronic ballot delivery, will also find their online services portal up-to-date for the upcoming election, allowing them to receive and return their ballots electronically. This two-tiered rollout — first for military and overseas citizens, then for other voters — ensures each group receives the necessary attention and resources for their voting needs, reflecting the Board's commitment to efficient and inclusive electoral processes.
