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. 

2026 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 Durham 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 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 ballots cannot be accepted at any polling place on Election Day.

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

3/3/2026 UOCAVA Election Notice

11/3/2026 UOCAVA Election Notice (Coming Soon)

When will ballots be mailed prior to an election?

In accordance with G.S. 163-227.10, absentee ballots will be made available as follows:

• Statewide General Elections in even-numbered years: 60 days prior to the election
• Other Non-Municipal Elections: 50 days prior to the election, unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board of Elections
• Municipal Elections: 30 days prior to the election

Is ID required for absentee voting?

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

Who is qualified to vote an absentee ballot?

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

How can I receive an absentee ballot?

In order to receive an absentee ballot, you must first complete a request form. This form is available in the Request an Absentee Ballot section of this page and via the Absentee Request Portal. The form must be completed and returned in-person, through the Absentee Request Portal, or by mail. You will not be able to receive an absentee 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 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 an absentee ballot by completing the required request form.

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

To track your absentee ballot through BallotTrax, click here. 

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

No. Each voter receives an absentee 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 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 ballot and vote?

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