North Carolina Launches Absentee Ballot Distribution for 2024 Election

North Carolina, known as "The Tar Heel State," has initiated the distribution of absentee ballots for the upcoming November 2024 general election. This process, which typically positions North Carolina as the first state to send out ballots for fall elections, experienced a two-week delay due to legal complications.

As of September 24, 2024, election officials across all 100 counties in North Carolina have begun mailing out the first batch of absentee ballots to regular state residents. This follows the earlier distribution of ballots to military and overseas voters, which commenced on September 19, 2024. The staggered release was implemented to ensure compliance with federal law, which mandates that ballots for these specific voter categories be transmitted by September 21, 2024.

The State Board of Elections reported that over 207,000 absentee ballot requests had been received as of September 23, 2024. This figure includes more than 19,000 requests from military and overseas voters, some of whom have already returned their completed ballots.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s legal challenge caused the initial delay in ballot distribution. The presidential candidate sought removal from the ballot, leading to a court-ordered halt in the process. Consequently, election officials across the state had to print new ballots and reassemble absentee voter packets, pushing back the original September 6, 2024, distribution date.

For the 2024 election cycle, North Carolina has implemented new regulations regarding absentee voting. The deadline for requesting a traditional absentee ballot by mail is set for October 29, 2024. Additionally, a recently enacted law stipulates that mail-in absentee ballots for most voters must be received by election officials, either in person or through mail, by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024. It's important to note that military and overseas voters have different request and return deadlines.

North Carolina, which was the first state to vote for independence from Great Britain in 1776, has a rich history of democratic participation. The state's General Assembly, established in 1789, is the second oldest continuing state legislature in the United States. This legacy of civic engagement is reflected in the state's approach to absentee voting, which has evolved significantly over time.

The use of absentee ballots in North Carolina has fluctuated in recent years. During the 2020 general election, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 1 million absentee ballots were cast. This number decreased to roughly 188,000 for the November 2022 midterm election. The 2024 election cycle may see yet another shift in absentee voting patterns as the state adapts to new regulations and changing voter preferences.

North Carolina's commitment to accessible voting aligns with its pioneering spirit in other areas. The state was home to the Wright brothers' first successful flight in Kitty Hawk in 1903 and saw the invention of Pepsi-Cola in New Bern in 1893. Today, North Carolina continues to be a leader in various fields, from education with the oldest public university system in the US to research and innovation at the Research Triangle Park.

As the 2024 election approaches, North Carolina's diverse geography - from the coastal plains to the Great Smoky Mountains - serves as a backdrop to the democratic process. The state's motto, "Esse Quam Videri" (To be, rather than to seem), resonates with the importance of civic participation and the role of absentee voting in ensuring all eligible voters can have their voices heard.