Absentee ballots for the 2010 General Election were supposed to be available to the public on Sept. 3, but that timing has been delayed by a late-filing period in one of the positions for N.C. Court of Appeals. The N.C. State Board of Elections is in the process of adding the 13 candidates who signed up for that race, and whose election will be by the newly mandated instant-runoff voting (rank your choices for first, second and third).
“I’m told we’ll be looking at ballot proofs [this] week, at the latest, Friday,” said Trena Parker, head of Buncombe County Election Services. “It takes several days for the proofing process, and then it will be in the printer’s hands.” Parker hopes to have the ballots available to the public by Sept. 17, or possibly earlier.
Absentee ballots may be requested by a voter or by a close relative when someone is away from the area — perhaps in the military or at college — or someone who is housebound and unable to travel. Written requests may be sent to: Mary Harrill, Board of Elections, PO Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802. Include the voter’s name, address, phone number, date of birth and the address where the ballot should be mailed. Written requests must be signed by the voter. Requests may also be made by e-mail to absenteeballot.request@buncombecounty.org.
Completed absentee ballots are due at the Board of Elections office by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, the day before the General Election. Military ballots, said Parker, will still be processed if received by mail during the week of canvas (Nov. 8-12), provided they are correctly postmarked and filled out.
Early voting starts Oct. 14.
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