Last day for absentee ballot requests drawing near

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The last day to request an absentee ballot is next Tuesday.

This is the first presidential election where people voting by mail must show a photo ID. Once you get your absentee ballot in the mail, it’s going to ask you to photocopy your ID.

Then, you’ll simply send it back with your ballot. If you do not have a photo ID, you can still vote by mail. You’ll just fill out a reasonable impediment form to explain why you can’t provide one.

Then, your local board of elections will decide whether or not to approve your ballot. Some of those impediments are anything from schedule conflicts to being the victim of natural disasters 100 days before the election.

“My son is at N.C. State University and he had done an absentee ballot and when he was home, we do not have a copy machine at my house,” Onslow County Board of Elections Director Jason Dedmond said. “And so, he did a reasonable impediment form. And, you know, even my son took advantage of, you know, the reason someone might not be able to make a copy.”

People can also still vote early up until Nov. 2. After that, you have to vote in your precinct on Election Day.

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