🗳NCSBE New Public Hearing 9 a.m. on July 16, 2026

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PRESS RELEASE
Monday, June 29, 2026

Raleigh, NC

The new hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on July 16, 2026, in the Board Room at the State Board of Elections, Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603.

The State Board of Elections has rescheduled the in-person public hearing on several proposed rules that will govern how county boards of elections should proceed when a deficiency with a returned absentee ballot is identified by county board staff.
The new hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on July 16, 2026, in the Board Room at the State Board of Elections, Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603. Additionally, the comment period for the absentee voting rules (and only those rules) has been extended through July 16.
The original public hearing was held on June 22, but due to technical difficulties with the recording, the hearing must be rescheduled so that the Board members can hear and consider the oral comments before taking final action on the rules.
Details on how to comment on the absentee rules, through July 16, are listed below:

Absentee Voting Rules (Read text of the proposed rules* and an explanation and reason for proposing the rules)

• Online: Public Comment Portal: 2026 Absentee Voting Rules
• Email: [e-mail] (Note: Commenter should identify the specific rule being commented on.)
• In-Person Public Hearing: 9 a.m. July 16, 2026, in the Board Room at the State Board of Elections, Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603. 
• Mail: Attn: Rulemaking Coordinator, P.O. Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27611-7255 (Note: Commenter should identify the specific rule being commented on.)

Information about all proposed rules and links to the text of the rules are available on the State Board website at Rulemaking**

*Proposed Rules (PDF):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Legal/Rules/2026%20Proposed%20Rules/Absentee%20Rules/Notice%20of%20Text%20Absentee%20Deficiencies.pdf

TITLE 08 – STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Notice is hereby given in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.2 that the State Board of Elections intends to adopt the rules cited as 08 NCAC
18 .0201, and .0501-.0505.
Link to agency website pursuant to G.S. 150B-19.1(c): https://www.ncsbe.gov/about-elections/legal-resources/rulemaking
Proposed Effective Date: September 1, 2026
Public Hearing:
Date: June 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Location: State Board of Elections, Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Reason for Proposed Action: The State Board of Elections is authorized to adopt rules that establish procedures to provide
appropriate safeguards in the implementation of N.C.G.S. 163-230.1 for absentee ballots. The State Board is proposing a series of rules
that will govern how county boards of elections are to proceed when a deficiency with a returned absentee ballot is identified by county
board staff. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0201 is a definitions rule. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0501 directs county board staff to review
for deficiencies when an absentee ballot is received. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0502 identifies deficiencies that can be cured and
directs the county board staff and voter processes to do so. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0503 identifies deficiencies that cannot be cured
and will result in the ballot being cancelled and reissued, if there is enough time to do so. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0504 identifies
irregularities that must be documented but which do not require a cure process or the ballot to be reissued. Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18
.0505 identifies irregularities that must be documented and the voter contacted to determine whether the issue can be cured or must
result in the ballot being spoiled and reissued.
Comments may be submitted to: Adam Steele, P.O. Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27611; email [e-mail] (Comments
may be submitted online during the comment period at https://www.ncsbe.gov/about-elections/legal-resources/rulemaking)
Comment period ends: July 14, 2026
Procedure for Subjecting a Proposed Rule to Legislative Review: If an objection is not resolved prior to the adoption of the rule, a
person may also submit a written objection to the Rules Review Commission. If the Rules Review Commission receives written and
signed objections after the adoption of the Rule in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.3(b2) from 10 or more persons clearly requesting
review by the legislature and the Rules Review Commission approves the rule, the rule will become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-
21.3(b1). The Commission will receive written objections until 5:00 p.m. on the day following the day the Commission approves the
rule. The Commission will receive letters via U.S. Mail, private courier service, or hand delivery to 1711 New Hope Church Road,
Raleigh, North Carolina, or via email to [e-mail]. If you have any further questions concerning the submission of
objections to the Commission, please review 26 NCAC 05 .0110 or call a Commission staff attorney at 984-236-1850.
Fiscal impact. Does any rule or combination of rules in this notice create an economic impact? Check all that apply.
State funds affected
Local funds affected
Substantial economic impact (>= $1,000,000)
Approved by OSBM
No fiscal note required
CHAPTER 18 - ABSENTEE BALLOTS
SECTION .0200 – GENERAL RULES FOR ABSENTEE VOTING
08 NCAC 18 .0201 DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Chapter:
(1) "Application" means the absentee ballot application printed on the ballot envelope as provided by G.S. 163-229.
(2) "Absentee ballot package" means the combination of the outer return envelope, ballot envelope, application,
instructions, absentee ballot, and blank photo identification affidavit.
(3) "Absentee voter" means a registered voter who has requested to vote by absentee ballot.
(4) "Ballot envelope" means the envelope provided by a county board of elections to a voter pursuant to G.S. 163-230.1
that is designated to contain a voted absentee ballot when the ballot is returned to the county board of elections.
(5) "Curable deficiency" means a deficiency that can be cured with supplemental documentation or an attestation provided
by the absentee voter.
(6) "Cure" means the process by which a voter submits additional documentation or an attestation that corrects a curable
deficiency.
(7) "Cure notice" means a written notice sent to an absentee voter identifying a curable deficiency and informing the voter
that the voter, the voter's verifiable legal guardian or near relative, or a person of the voter's choice if the voter needs

Public Comment Portal: 2026 Rulemaking - Absentee Voting

Comment on Proposed Rules
The State Board of Elections invites the public to comment on several proposed rules that will govern how county boards of elections should proceed when a deficiency with a returned absentee ballot is identified by county board staff. These new rules will provide appropriate safeguards in the implementation of state laws regarding the completion of absentee applications and submission of absentee ballots. Read the Notice of Text.
Proposed rules:
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0201: Definitions – This rule provides definitions for terms used in the other rules.
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0501: Review for Deficiencies – This rule directs county board staff to review for deficiencies when an absentee ballot is received.
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0502: Curable Deficiencies – This rule identifies deficiencies that can be cured and directs the county board staff and voter processes to do so.
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0503: Non-Curable Deficiencies – This rule identifies deficiencies that cannot be cured and will result in the ballot being cancelled and reissued, if there is enough time to do so.
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0504: Irregularities That Do Not Require Further Action from the Voter – This rule identifies irregularities that must be documented but which do not require a cure process or the ballot to be reissued.
• Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0505: Irregularities That Require Further Action – This rule identifies irregularities that must be documented and the voter contacted to determine whether the issue can be cured or must result in the ballot being spoiled and reissued.
The public comment period opens May 15, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on July 14, 2026. Submitted comments will be compiled and provided to the State Board for its review before its final consideration of the proposed rules.
For more information about the rulemaking process, please visit Rulemaking.**

Record Your Public Comment:

https://www.ncsbe.gov/public-comment-portal-2026-rulemaking-absentee-voting

**Rulemaking:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/about-elections/legal-resources/rulemaking

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