Elections officials have begun issuing ballots to voters who requested to participate by mail.

“North Carolina’s voters are among the first in the nation to make their voices heard in this election,” said State Board of Elections Executive Director Kim Westbrook Strach. “With high turnout expected, we encourage voters to consider all their voting options.”

To request a ballot, voters must complete the form available at ncsbe.gov. The form must be completed by the voter or by the voter’s near relative. Requests must be delivered to the county board of elections office no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Ballots should be returned to the county board of elections office no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 8. Voted ballots delivered between Nov. 9 and Nov. 11 will be counted only if postmarked on or before Election Day.

To check registration status, or to view a sample ballot, visit ncsbe.gov.

– article submitted by Joshua Lawson