• By Mail to Board of Elections. Ballots must be received at your county board of elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted regardless of whether or not they include a postmark. Civilian absentee ballots that arrive at the county board of elections office after Election Day will not be counted. The State Board recommends that voters mail their ballot early in order for it to arrive on or before Election Day.

• By commercial courier service. (DHL, FedEx, or UPS.)

• In person at your county board of elections office. If you are delivering your voted ballot in person, it must be returned to your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. You also may return it to any open early voting site in your county during the early voting period. When you return a ballot in person, you will be required to complete a return log as part of the in-person return process.

• In person at an open early voting site in your county.

  You may not return an absentee ballot to a polling place on Election Day

SOURCE: NC STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FAQ ON ABSENTEE MAIL IN BALLOTS