Absentee voting began Monday, April 18 in 16 congressional primaries across the state after a federal court in February ordered legislators to redraw district lines.  Election day is June 7 and will include a statewide primary for N.C. Supreme Court.

The State Board of Elections is encouraging voters to consider participating by mail in what is expected to be a low-turnout election. The state’s stand-alone congressional primary in 1998 drew only four percent of registered voters.

“Voting by mail helps ensure that graduation ceremonies and summer travel won’t keep you from participating,” said Executive Director Kim Westbrook Strach.

Citing the unexpected nature of the June primary, members of the state board ordered counties to carry-forward absentee ballot requests from the March statewide primary. County officials are now mailing more than 55,000 ballots, with more requests expected before the civilian deadline on May 31.

Special assistance is available for voters living in care facilities, such as nursing homes. Upon request, county boards of elections will send Multi-partisan Assistance Teams (MATs) to help voters in care facilities complete their Absentee Ballot Request forms, mark their ballot, or serve as required witnesses.

“MATs allow residents in care facilities to get reliable assistance free of partisan influence,” said Strach. “That is one reason MATs are part of our broad effort to ensure every voice is heard. We hope every team in every county will be busy assisting voters in care facilities to cast absentee ballots for June 7.”

Care facility coordinators or members of the public can contact their local county board of elections office to schedule a visit. Additional information is available online at ncsbe.gov/Voting/Absentee-Voting/MAT.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections is the state agency charged with overall responsibility for administration of the elections process and campaign finance disclosure in North Carolina. The office of the State Board of Elections works in conjunction with county board of elections offices to ensure that elections are conducted lawfully and fairly. For additional information visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections website at ncsbe.gov.

-Submitted by Joshua Lawson