With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, voter safety during the upcoming election in November is an important issue. As many people plan to avoid large crowds, many are looking to vote from home using absentee ballots.

The absentee voting method is allowed for anyone who either cannot or do not wish to go to their polling station, but still want to cast their vote. Any registered Orange County voter, or a near relative of a registered voter, can send in a request to receive a ballot in the mail instead of voting in-person. In Chapel Hill, some groups are aiming to raise awareness of the method by putting out roadside signs.

Penny Rich, the chair of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, recently spoke about this issue with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck. She confirmed some people have already begun the process to have their ballots mailed.

“You can, at any time now, request an absentee ballot,” Rich said. “You just need to go on the Orange County website, which will take you to the state website where you fill out the form.”

Roadside signs encouraging residents to request absentee ballots have already been showing up around Chapel Hill.

Once finished, residents can turn in the request form either online or through the mail. Eventually, a ballot will come in the mail for the November general election.

But according to Rich, there has recently been concern and confusion among residents about how to safely turn these ballots in. With the U.S. Postal Service lacking funding from the federal government to handle the increased demand of absentee ballots, residents are searching for alternative options than simply mailing ballots in.

Rich said due to a law by the General Assembly, North Carolinians cannot set up drop-off locations for absentee ballots.

“Unlike other states,” she said, “North Carolina does not allow us to have dropboxes. You do need to pop it into the mail after you fill it out with your one witness.”

For those who feel comfortable leaving home, however, the commissioner explained two additional ways voters can turn in such ballots.

“You can bring it up to the Orange County Board of Elections,” said Rich, which is located in Hillsborough. “You can bring yours and one of your close relatives. You can also deliver it to any early voting site once early voting starts. Instead of waiting in line, you can bring your absentee ballot and someone there will sign off on it.”

Early voting in Orange County is slated to begin Thursday October 15, with Election Day on November 3.

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