See our 2024 Election Schedule page for the full upcoming schedule and general information. 

If you have questions not answered on our website, please select this link to view the North Carolina State Board of Elections website information or contact our office at absentee@guilfordcountync.gov or by telephone at 336-641-6876.

Absentee by Mail Ballot Voting

Any registered voter in Guilford County may vote by absentee ballot. There are three steps to voting absentee by mail ballot:

1. Request absentee by mail ballot 
2. Vote ballot
3. Return ballot

Contact our Absentee Department if any questions (scroll to bottom for contact information).

Photo ID Information for Absentee by Mail Voting

Please Note: Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID inside the “photo ID envelope” that comes with their ballot. If an absentee-by-mail voter is unable to include a copy of their photo ID in their ballot return envelope, they can instead fill out an ID Exception Form and submit with their absentee ballot return envelope. Review the Photo ID Information page or NCSBE Voter ID webpage for information concerning photo ID requirements including a list of acceptable photo IDs for voting.

Requesting an Absentee by Mail Ballot

IMPORTANT NOTE: fraudulently or falsely completing this form is a Class I Felony under Chapter 163 of the NC General Statutes.

If an individual is not registered in their county of residence, please visit our Voter Information page to find out how to register to vote in Guilford County.

Registered voters may request an absentee by-mail ballot for the 2024 election cycle through the Online Absentee Request Portal.  

The North Carolina State 2024 Absentee Ballot Request Form may also be used to request and receive a mail-in absentee ballot for an election. Previous versions of the request form are obsolete.

The absentee ballot request form must be signed by the voter, a near relative*, legal guardian or person the voter asks to help due to disability.

Important note: an Absentee Ballot Request is specific to ONE election date. Before completing and sending, please verify that the box beside one election date requested is checked and correct.

*Near relative is defined as a: spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild.) NOTE: A Power of Attorney (POA) is not on this list; unless the POA is a near relative or legal guardian, the POA is not eligible to request an absentee ballot for a voter unless due to disability of the voter and at the voter's request.

IF voter has disability, they may request assistance from the person of their choice. Specifically, Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act permits any voter who is blind, disabled, or unable to read or write to request "assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union."

When completing an absentee ballot request form, the following information is required:

• The date of the election in which the voter would like to vote
• The voter's full, legal name
• The voter's date of birth
• ONE of the following types of identification for the voter: NC driver's license number, NC special identification card number for non-operators, last four digits of social security number. Important note: the full, legal name on the ballot request and ID provided must match.
• The voter’s residential address (where voter lives). If the voter has a mailing address other than residence address, please include it. This would be for any/all mailings, not just for the one request. See the "where to mail ballot section" for one time only address.
• The address where the voter would like the absentee ballot mailed.
• Complete the section for expected illness or disability ONLY IF it applies to the voter.
• Complete the section concerning an accessible ballot and will need an email for the voter ONLY if it applies to the voter.
• While not required, we request a telephone number and/or email address in case our staff has questions or concerns with the submitted request.
• If completed with the assistance of a qualified individual, the assistant must sign and include their name and address where indicated on the form.
  • If completed and signed by a near relative (see defining list above) or verifiable legal guardian, include name and address of near relative or legal guardian.
  • Power of Attorneys (POAs) are NOT eligible to sign the voter's name or mark unless due to disability of the voter. In addition, POAs are only allowed to assist the voter if the voter is disabled, requests their assistance or the POA meets the definition of a near relative or legal guardian.
• Request form MUST be signed. Voter signature area is near bottom of form and “other requestor’s" signature area is located in Section 8.
• If the voter is registered unaffiliated and the election is a partisan primary, the voter may choose to receive a party ballot for the Primary. The political party preference is for the Primary only and the voter will remain registered as Unaffiliated.

Returning the Absentee Ballot Request Form

Completed absentee ballot request forms may be mailed or hand-delivered to the county board of elections office by one of the following individuals:

• the voter
• the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian
• a member of a multipartisan assistance team (MAT)
• the person of the voter's choice IF due to disability of voter, provided the assistant completes the assistant section.

Completed request forms may also be delivered to the county board of elections by the U.S. Postal Service or designated delivery service authorized pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 7502(f).

If not due to disability, forms returned by any other person cannot be processed.

A signed and completed absentee ballot request form may be received by the county board of elections office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the date of the election for which the ballot is being requested.

Requests that are received after the absentee request deadline will not be deemed timely, regardless of any postmark date.

Mailing Address (for USPS): Absentee Department, Guilford County Board of Elections, PO Box 3427, Greensboro, NC 27402

Hand Delivery Address (for hand delivery only): Greensboro Office - 301 W. Market Street, 1st Floor, Greensboro, NC 27401 OR High Point Office - 325 E. Russell Ave, High Point, NC 27260

Please verify hours and availability before visiting our offices in person. 

Delivery Service Address (for delivery services such as FedEx and UPS): 301 W. Market Street, Room 115, Greensboro, NC 27401

Voting an Absentee Ballot

IMPORTANT NOTE: fraudulently or falsely completing an absentee ballot is a Class I Felony under Chapter 163 of North Carolina Statutes.

ALSO NOTE: Voters who vote by mail must include a photocopy of an acceptable photo ID inside the “photo ID envelope” that comes with their ballot. If an absentee-by-mail voter is unable to include a copy of their photo ID in their ballot return envelope, they can instead fill out an ID Exception Form and submit with their absentee ballot return envelope. Check the NCSBE Voter ID webpage for information concerning photo ID requirements including a list of acceptable photo IDs.  

Either two witnesses or a Notary Public are required on the ballot return envelope.

In the presence of two witnesses who are at least 18 years old or a Notary Public, the voter should mark the ballot, or if the voter is unable to mark the ballot, shall cause it to be marked according to the voter's instructions. 

• A witness or Notary Public should not observe so closely that they are able to see what votes the voter marked. What is required is that the witness sees that the voter is voting the ballot and that the voter signs and completes the Voter Certificate.

The voter's witnesses must, after observing the voter marking the ballot, complete and sign the envelope in the space designated as Witness Certification. If a Notary Public is used instead of witnesses, the Notary would complete and sign the envelope in the space designated as Notary Public.

IF voter has a disability, they may request assistance from the person of their choice. Specifically, Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act permits any voter who is blind, disabled, or unable to read or write to request "assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union."

Any person who assisted the voter must sign and date the certificate in the proper place on the envelope. The assistant may serve as both the assistant and one of the witnesses; if this is the case, the assistant's signature is needed in both places.

The voter must attempt to sign or make their mark. If the voter cannot sign due to a disability, the assistant should write in the voter certificate section "Voter Unable to Sign due to Disability" and then the assistant must complete the Assistant Certification section.

Each ballot and container-return envelope have an assigned number that usually begins with CIV. These numbers should be reviewed on both the ballot and envelope to ensure they match. Return the ballot in the correct envelope.

Do not include any other document inside the ballot return envelope. Only a voted ballot may be placed in the envelope. Only one (1) ballot per envelope and completed form may be returned together; do not combine forms, ballots, or envelopes for spouses or others voting absentee at the same time.

Once the return envelope and photo ID envelope are fully executed with all relevant signatures, the voted ballot (placed inside the container-return envelope and sealed) must be returned to the county board of elections. See below for deadlines.

Returning an Absentee Ballot

Only the voter, the voter's near relative*, or a verifiable legal guardian may take possession of the absentee ballot for the purpose of returning the ballot to the board of elections unless due to disability. (*Near relative is defined as a: spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, stepparent, or stepchild.) NOTE: unless also a near relative or verifiable legal guardian, a Power of Attorney is not on this list and therefore not eligible to return an absentee ballot for a voter unless due to disability. 

In Person Return:

• Qualified individuals returning an absentee ballot envelope to either an Early Voting site or the county board of elections office will be required to sign a log indicating relationship to voter. 
• The completed ballot envelope may be delivered in person to an open Early Voting location during the early voting period. Once approved and published, a list of sites and dates/times open can be found on our Early Voting information page.
• The completed ballot envelope may be delivered in person to either Guilford County Board of Elections office in Greensboro (301 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401) or High Point (325 E. Russell Avenue, High Point, NC 27260) by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
• The envelope may not be delivered to any precinct voting location on Election Day.

By Mail Return:

• Absentee ballots received after 7:30 p.m. on Election Day are not timely.

Contact the Guilford County Absentee Department:

Email: absentee@guilfordcountync.gov (Only Military and Overseas Voters may email or fax their request forms. ALL OTHER individuals must return their absentee ballot request form via the absentee portal, USPS mail, in person, or by other designated delivery service.)

Fax: 336-641-4454 (Only Military and Overseas Voters may email or fax their request forms. ALL OTHER individuals must return their absentee ballot request form via the absentee portal, USPS mail, in person, or by other designated delivery service.)

Phone: 336-641-6876

A new absentee ballot request must be submitted for each election. The law allows annual absentee ballot requests only if there is a sickness or physical disability.

We do not routinely confirm receipt. If there is a problem with a request submitted, we contact the voter within 5 business days; otherwise, we process the request, and a ballot should be received about one month prior to the election. If the request is received closer to the election, we typically mail the ballot within 1-2 business days after receipt of request, depending upon the volume of requests received. If a voter or qualifying near relative would like to confirm that a ballot request has been received and processed, send an email to absentee@guilfordcountync.gov identifying the relationship to the voter and requesting absentee ballot status or call 336-641-6876. A response should be received in 2-3 business days.