Voters who have requested mail-in ballots will soon have forms in the mailboxes.
Absentee-by-mail ballots will be mailed Monday for the March 3 primary, according to the State Board of Elections. Voters who have already requested absentee ballots will receive them within the next week. Anyone eligible to vote in North Carolina may request an absentee ballot by mail. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Feb. 17.
Deadlines have changed for this election. Previously, ballots had a grace period of up to three days following an election. Under new laws, ballots must be returned to the local board of elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Only ballots that are in the Elections Office by deadline, not the mail, will be counted. Voters are urged to send their ballots back or return them in person as soon as possible to avoid possible delays.
The March 3 primary will determine which party nominees will be on the November ballot. Some races will be decided in the primary, due to a lack of opposition.
Unaffiliated voters may request a Republican or Democrat ballot for the primary. Unaffiliated, Green and Libertarian ballots are not available in Columbus County.
By-mail voters must have two individuals or a notary witness that the voter completed the ballot. The witnesses must sign the ballot return envelope where indicated. By-mail voters also will be asked to place a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID in the sleeve on the back of their ballot envelope. The photocopy does not have to be a color copy, but election officials must be able to read it.
Absentee voters who are unable to provide a copy of a photo ID should complete the Photo ID Exception Form that is included with their absentee ballot materials, and place that form in the sleeve indicated for photo ID.
Resident voters must be registered by Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. Overseas and military voters have different deadlines.
In-person early voting begins Feb. 12 and ends Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.
For more information or to check your voting registration status, contact the Columbus County Board of Elections at 910.640.6609.
