Securing the vote: how North Carolina ensures absentee ballot integrity

SEPT. 19, 2023 – Buncombe County Election Services Director Corinne Duncan says anyone over 18 who is a United States citizen and a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days, who is not serving a felony, may register to vote. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)

By Jennifer Emert, WLOS, Thursday, September 28, 2023

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Ballots are ready for the upcoming November municipal elections. With security concerns raised around the 2020 and 2022 elections, News 13 is looking at election security measures.

In Western North Carolina, data shows that most people vote before Election Day in absentee voting. Absentee voting includes all non-Election Day voting, like absentee by mail, early in-person, military, overseas, and online voting for people with some disabilities.

Election Day is Nov. 7, 2023. Ballots for those voting by mail will be released starting Oct. 6. News 13 looked into the state’s process to make this type of voting secure.

Frances Brennan’s custom bags and accessories are popular spot outside the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. But when it comes to voting, Brennan’s in the minority.

“I’m like, ‘Nah, I’ll just wait for the day’,” Brennan said.

Why wait for Election Day, News 13 questioned.

“I think it’s because accountability for me, and I know that it’s going to go through,” said Brennan.

The overwhelming majority of voters in Buncombe County trust and use the absentee or non-Election Day voting process. News 13 sat down with Buncombe County Deputy Elections Deputy Director Neggy Fox with questions about the process.

“Are there a lot of eyes on this process,” News 13 asked.

“There are so many eyes on this process. There are so many checks and balances from start to finish,” Fox explained.

For instance:

“To request an absentee ballot, you do have to be a registered voter, and yes, you need to request a form and complete it to submit to us,” said Fox.

That form to request an absentee ballot requires private information, a social security number unique to the voter. An acceptable photo ID is also required when the ballot is returned.

“A photocopy of your driver’s license, a passport, any military id’s work, veterans, ID cards — those are all acceptable forms of IDs,” Fox said.

In North Carolina, you must physically take it to the office or mail it in, no drop boxes, which raised issues in other states. When the ballot arrives in the Election’s Office, it gets audited.

“We’re looking to make sure that, one, that person has voted only once, and then we update their record so if they try to come back to vote or they try to turn in an absentee ballot, the record has already been updated so we would know that person tried to vote twice,” explained Fox.

For those voting by mail, elections officials have some advice.

“As soon as you get it, go ahead and vote it and send it in,” said Fox.

That’s part of the reason Frances Brennan waits for Election Day to cast her vote — to give her the time she needs.

“It takes a while for me to decide who I’m going to vote for. I have to do the research,” Brennan said.

The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 13, 2023. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 31, 2023, for the November municipal election.

Early voting runs Oct. 19, 2023, through Nov. 3, 2023, at Elections Services, which is open Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Nov. 4 between 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

NC VOTERS CAN NOW GET FREE VOTER IDS AT LOCAL COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS

Early voting will also be available in Buncombe County at the Weaverville Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

Election Day is Nov. 7, 2023.

Voters will be asked to show photo ID when voting in North Carolina starting with the 2023 municipal elections. See a full list of acceptable ID cards here. Registered voters in North Carolina who do not have an acceptable identification card can get a free ID at their local county board of elections.

Read the complete WLOS news article here.