Buncombe County -- July 25, 2026: Proposed updates to North Carolina’s absentee voting rules could soon alter how mail-in ballots are handled across the state. However, election officials in Buncombe County emphasize that the changes are not currently in effect, and voters should continue following existing instructions.
On July 20, the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3–2 along party lines to advance a package of permanent absentee voting regulations. Proponents argue the measures will standardize procedures and enhance election security, while opponents express concern that strict technical requirements could lead to higher ballot rejection rates.
Key Provisions in the Proposed Rules
If finalized, the updated rules would establish stricter requirements for county boards of elections when receiving and processing mail-in ballots:
Envelope Sealing Requirements: Ballots not sealed correctly within the designated inner absentee container envelope prior to being placed in the outer mailing envelope would face mandatory rejection.
Spoiled Ballot Protocol: Certain improperly sealed or defective ballots would be spoiled and reissued rather than corrected through existing cure processes after voter contact.
Enhanced Record-Keeping: County election staff would be required to log precise receipt times for all absentee ballots and maintain detailed records of any outreach regarding ballot deficiencies.
Democratic board members cautioned that elderly and rural voters could be disproportionately impacted by administrative rejections, especially if notified too late to return a reissued ballot. Republican members countered that the guidelines create necessary consistency and clear instructions for handling defective submissions across all 100 counties.
Next Steps and Implementation Timeline
The proposed rules have been forwarded to the North Carolina Rules Review Commission for consideration at its August 27 meeting.
Even if approved by the commission, an official effective date has not been established. Consequently, it remains uncertain whether these rules will take effect in time for the 2026 general elections. County election offices cannot enforce the proposed standards until the rulemaking process is fully complete and official guidance is issued by the State Board.
"The rules from the July 20 State Board of Elections meeting have not been fully adopted," said Buncombe County Election Services Director Corinne Duncan. "If adopted, they may not be in the final form, and the State Board of Elections has not sent guidance to county election offices. The steps that voters can take to make sure their absentee ballots are properly completed are still valid."