Voting by Mail in NC — A Notary Can Witness Your Absentee Ballot

Publish date: Monday, September 28, 2026

Content rule: strictly nonpartisan. No candidates, parties, or issues.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and many voters in Rocky Mount and Nash and Edgecombe counties will vote by mail. North Carolina has an extra step for mail-in ballots that many people don't know about until the ballot is sitting on their kitchen table: it has to be witnessed.

Here's what the rule is, how a notary can help, and the dates to keep in mind.

The Rule: Two Witnesses or One Notary

When you fill out an absentee ballot in North Carolina, you have to mark it in front of two adult witnesses or one notary public. Your witnesses (or notary) then sign the back of the ballot envelope to confirm that you filled out your own ballot.

A few things are important to know:

• Witnesses and notaries watch that you mark your ballot, not how you vote. Your choices stay private.

• Witnesses must be 18 or older and can't be a candidate (with limited exceptions for close relatives).

• If you live in a nursing home, assisted living, or similar facility, the facility's owners, managers, and employees can't serve as your witnesses.

For people who live alone, are homebound, or live in a care facility, finding two eligible witnesses can be hard. One notary counts the same as two witnesses.

Notaries Can't Charge for Absentee Ballots

North Carolina law says a notary may not charge any fee for witnessing and notarizing an absentee ballot envelope (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 10B-30(d)). If you need a notary for your mail-in ballot, East NC Notary Services will notarize it free of charge.

What a Notary Does (and Doesn't Do)

A notary will:

• Be present while you mark your ballot

• Sign the ballot envelope and add a notary seal and the words "Notary Public," as state law requires

A notary won't:

• Look at, suggest, or discuss how you vote

• Help you choose candidates or explain issues

• Mail or drop off your ballot for you. In North Carolina, only you, a near relative, or your legal guardian can return your ballot, with limited exceptions for voters with disabilities.

Don't Forget Your Photo ID

North Carolina asks mail-in voters to put a copy of an acceptable photo ID in the clear sleeve on the back of the return envelope. If you can't include one, fill out the Photo ID Exception Form that comes with your ballot and put it in the sleeve instead.

2026 Dates to Know

• October 9, 5 p.m.: Voter registration deadline

• October 15–31: Early in-person voting (ends at 3 p.m. on Oct. 31)

• October 20, 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot

• November 3, 7:30 p.m.: Your ballot must be received by your county board of elections. A postmark isn't enough, so mail it early.

Request your ballot or check its status at the NC State Board of Elections Absentee Ballot Portal (votebymail.ncsbe.gov), or call your county board of elections.

Quick Checklist

☐ Request your ballot before Oct. 20 at 5 p.m.

☐ Line up two eligible witnesses or one notary

☐ Mark your ballot in their presence and seal it in the envelope

☐ Have your witnesses or notary sign the envelope

☐ Put a copy of your photo ID (or the exception form) in the sleeve

☐ Return it so it arrives by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3

Need a Notary for Your Ballot?

East NC Notary Services, LLC is a mobile notary based in Rocky Mount, serving clients within 50 miles. We can come to your home, hospital room, or senior living community, including evenings from 5:00–8:00 PM, to notarize your absentee ballot at no charge.

Call (252) 220-4372 or visit eastncnotary.com to schedule.

This post is general information, not legal advice. East NC Notary Services is nonpartisan and doesn't endorse any candidate, party, or issue. For official election rules and deadlines, visit ncsbe.gov or contact your county board of elections.