A voter’s absentee ballot may be challenged based on the fact that the ballot does not comply with North Carolina law or the absentee voter is not legally entitled to vote in the particular election.
The absentee ballot of any voter that has been cast in an election may be challenged on the day of any election beginning no earlier than noon and ending no later than 5:00 p.m., or by the chief judge at the time of the closing of the polls.
Any registered voter of the same precinct as the absentee voter may challenge that voter's absentee ballot.
Each challenged absentee ballot shall be challenged separately. The burden of proof shall be on the challenger. Each challenge shall be made in writing on the Universal Voter Challenge Form. Each challenge shall specify the reasons why the ballot does not comply with North Carolina law or why the absentee voter is not legally entitled to vote in the particular election. The challenge must be signed by the challenger. Each challenge shall be addressed to the county board of elections. It may be filed with the board at its offices or with the chief judge of the precinct in which the challenger and absentee voter are registered. If it is delivered to the chief judge, the chief judge shall personally deliver the challenge to the chairman of the county board of elections on the day of the county canvass. All absentee ballot challenges filed shall be heard by the county board of elections on the day set for the county canvass.