Can Someone Else Request an Absentee Ballot for You? What North Carolina Law Allows
Who Can Return
- ✓ The voter
- ✓ The voter’s near relative or verifiable legal guardian
- ✓ A county Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT) sent by the county elections office
- ✓ A person who assisted because of the voter’s disability
- ✓ For a voter living in a facility who does not need disability assistance: if a MAT, near relative, or legal guardian isn’t available within seven days of requesting a MAT, another eligible helper may assist (with restrictions)
Note: Voters living in a facility who don't need disability-related assistance must first try a near relative, legal guardian, or county MAT. If none are available after seven days, someone else can help - but not facility staff or anyone in certain political or campaign roles.
If you’re requesting an absentee ballot for someone else, you don’t just fill in their information and send it off. North Carolina’s absentee request form has a requester section, and the person helping has to complete and sign that part. The voter’s signature is usually required on the absentee request form - but there are specific exceptions. If the ballot is being requested by the voter’s near relative, the voter’s legal guardian, or someone assisting because of the voter’s disability, the form does not require the voter’s signature.
Reminder: A near relative or legal guardian can request an absentee ballot for someone in a facility, but they can’t make changes to the voter’s registration record. And for new voter registrations, only the applicant can sign - using their original signature.
- Start with the approved helpers - If the voter is living in a facility and does not need disability assistance, the first step is seeking help from a near relative, a legal guardian, or a county Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT).
- Request a MAT and wait up to seven days - If the voter asks for a MAT, the rule looks at whether a MAT, near relative, or legal guardian is available within seven days of that MAT request.
- Use an alternative helper only if needed - and only if eligible - If none of those options are available within seven days, the voter may get help from someone else, as long as that person is not an owner/manager/director/employee of the facility, not an elected official/candidate/officeholder in a political party, and not a campaign manager or treasurer for a candidate or political party.
Key exception: If the voter needs help making the request due to a disability, any person may request the absentee ballot for them. The special “seven-day” facility rule applies to facility residents who do not require disability assistance - and even then, certain helpers are not allowed.
Practical Steps Helpers
- ✓ Complete and sign the requester section if you’re requesting a ballot on someone else’s behalf
- ✓ Make sure the voter signs the request form unless you’re a near relative, legal guardian, or you’re assisting because of the voter’s disability
- ✓ Don’t leave the signature question to guesswork - missing signatures can cause delays
In Pitt County, the absentee ballot request form has to be returned to the county board of elections either by mail or in person. The form can’t be emailed or faxed. For Pitt County, the mailing address listed for absentee request forms is: PO BOX 56, Greenville, NC 27835. The phone number listed is 252-902-3300.
Tip: If you’re helping someone request an absentee ballot, call the Pitt County Board of Elections at 252-902-3300 to confirm the best way to submit the request and double-check timing. You can also mail the request to PO BOX 56, Greenville, NC 27835.
Find an Inmate at Pitt County Detention Center, NC
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
