Mark Up Absentee Voting Definitions 08 NCAC 18.0201

08 NCAC 18 .0201 is proposed for adoption as follows:

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 mail out package” means the combination of the outer return envelope, ballot envelope, application, instructions, absentee ballot, and blank photo identification affidavit.

Note: Add Absentee ballot return package definition.

(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 assistance due to the voter's disability, may cure the deficiency by submitting required documentation or a completed attestation with required information.

(8) “Deficiency” means noncompliance with the requirements for absentee voting that requires the voter to cure the deficiency or the county board of elections to spoil the ballot and reissue the absentee ballot package.

 (9) “Irregularity” means noncompliance with the requirements for absentee voting that requires documentation and may require further action to determine if the irregularity is a curable or non curable deficiency.

(10) “Non-curable deficiency” means a deficiency that requires the absentee ballot to be spoiled because the deficiency does not meet the definition of a curable deficiency.

(11) “Photo identification affidavit” means the affidavit to claim an exception to the photo identification requirement under G.S. 163-166.16 and 163-230.1.

(12) “Photo identification documentation” means the photocopy of an acceptable photo identification or a photo identification affidavit required to be included with an application pursuant to G.S. 163- 37 230.1(f1).

(13) “Outer return envelope” means the envelope provided by a county board of elections to a voter for the voter to transmit the voter’s sealed ballot envelope and photo identification documentation to the county board of elections.

(14) “Spoil” means the act of cancelling an absentee ballot that has been or will be issued to a 5 registered voter.

History Note: Authority G.S. 163-22; 163-229; 163-230.1; 163-231; 163-234;

Eff. September 1, 2026.