Any registered voter of Durham County may request an absentee ballot. Requests can only be made by completing an Absentee Ballot Request Form provided by the State Board of Elections.

A request may be returned by any of the methods noted below:

• Online:  Absentee Request Portal
• By Mail: Durham County Board of Elections, Attn: Absentee Ballots, PO Box 868, Durham, NC, 27702
• In Person: 3825 S. Roxboro Street Suite 101
  Durham, NC 27713

For more details on Absentee Voting in North Carolina, please click here. 

2024 English Absentee Request Form - PDF

2024 Spanish Absentee Request Form - PDF

To request a Multi-Partisan Assistance Team (MAT) to assist covered facilities with the absentee balloting process, please click the link below!

Two Ways to Return Your Ballot:

1. Mail your ballot:

• Include correct postage on your ballot return envelope. The ballot must be received by the County Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

2. Return your ballot in-person:

• Return your ballot envelope to the Durham County Board of Elections office no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
• Return your ballot envelope to an early voting site in Durham County during the Early Voting period.

Absentee by-mail ballots returned in-person must be delivered by the voter, the voter's near relative, a verifiable legal guardian or anyone the voter chooses due to a disability.

Absentee by-mail ballots cannot be accepted at any polling place on Election Day.

Military and overseas voters have expanded absentee by-mail voting options! Please click here for more details on the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). 

11/05/24 General Election UOCAVA Notice

When will ballots be mailed for the 2024 Presidential Primary and Presidential General Elections?

In accordance with G.S. 163-227.10, absentee ballots will be made available no later than 60 days prior to the statewide general election in even-numbered years and 50 days prior to the date on which any other election shall be conducted.

Is ID required for absentee by-mail voting?

Yes. Civilian absentee voters are required to submit a photocopy of acceptable photo ID or an ID Exception Form along with their by-mail ballot. Click here for more information on photo ID for absentee-by-mail voters.

Who is qualified to vote an absentee by-mail ballot?

Any registered voter may vote an absentee ballot by-mail. No reason is required.

How can I receive an absentee ballot by mail?

In order to receive an absentee by-mail ballot, you must first complete a request form. This form is available here on our website or through the online submission portal. The form must be completed and returned in-person, through our online portal, or by mail. You will not be able to receive an absentee by-mail ballot unless this required form is properly completed and signed by the voter or requester. Click here for more information. 

May I request an absentee ballot by mail for someone else?

If you are a near relative, a verifiable legal guardian or a person the voter requests assistance from due to a disability, you may request a by-mail ballot by completing the required request form.

I have completed my absentee by-mail ballot request form. Is there a way to track when my ballot will arrive?

To track your absentee by-mail ballot through BallotTrax, click here. 

May I mail my voted absentee by-mail ballot together with another voter's absentee by-mail ballot in the same envelope?

No. Each voter receives an absentee by-mail ballot return envelope. That envelope is specific to each voter and should be returned only with that voter's completed ballot inside.

I am a visually impaired voter, is there an easy way for me to request and vote with an absentee by-mail ballot?

Visually impaired voters can request and vote with an accessible ballot through the Absentee Ballot Portal here.

I live in a care facility, how do I request an absentee by-mail ballot and vote?

If you live at a facility such as a hospital, clinic or nursing home, find out how to receive assistance with mail-in voting and other services provided by a Multipartisan Assistant Team (MAT), by reviewing the information at this link: Assistance for Voters in Care Facilities.