ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Twenty-one absentee ballots in Buncombe County have been rejected because voters failed to seal an inner envelope, a problem that election officials say is now handled differently under updated state guidance.

The 21 ballots accounted for nearly half of the 44 ballots classified as having problems that required replacements as of midday Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to Buncombe County Election Services.

Those voters can still have their votes counted if they complete and return replacement ballots in time.

The figures come as absentee ballot rejection rates draw attention across North Carolina ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

A recent Democracy Docket report found that some counties were seeing rejection rates as high as 7% to 8%, with improperly sealed envelopes among the reasons ballots were being turned away.

In Buncombe County, election officials reported 2,343 approved absentee ballots and 45 disapproved ballots as of 4:27 p.m. Wednesday. That works out to a disapproval rate of about 1.9%.

But that doesn’t mean 1.9% of voters have lost their votes.

When a ballot has a problem that cannot be corrected, election workers spoil it and issue a replacement. If the voter completes and returns the new ballot correctly, it can be counted.

The original disapproval remains in the state’s records, even if the replacement is accepted.

“So the ‘error’ stays on the books no matter what,” county officials said in an email response to questions from 828newsNOW.

That makes it difficult to determine how many voters ultimately fail to have their ballots counted based on the initial rejection figures alone.

What’s changed for absentee voters?

The instructions for absentee voters haven’t changed, according to Buncombe County election officials. What has changed is how certain ballot problems are handled.

Previously, an absentee ballot returned with an unsealed inner envelope would have gone before the county Board of Elections for review.

Now, under updated guidance from the North Carolina State Board of Elections, those ballots generally must be disapproved and replacements issued.

The state updated its guidance on absentee ballot deficiencies Sept. 4.

“These are not new requirements for voters,” county officials said. “Issues like unsealed envelopes, missing signatures, missing photo ID, and witness signatures with absentee ballots happen in every election.”

There is an exception for voters who return their absentee ballots in person. If the inner envelope isn’t sealed, they can seal it in front of election workers, who document the correction.

Otherwise, an improperly sealed ballot must be spoiled and a replacement issued.

Voters still have a chance to fix problems

Not every absentee ballot problem requires a replacement.

Election officials distinguish between deficiencies that voters can correct and those that require a new ballot.

As of midday Wednesday, 10 Buncombe County absentee ballots were awaiting corrections. Another 23 voters had already successfully corrected problems with their ballots.

Election workers contact affected voters by mail and also use phone calls and emails when that information is available.

Voters with eligible ballot deficiencies have until noon Tuesday, Nov. 10, to make corrections.

That deadline does not apply to replacement ballots. Those must be completed and returned by the absentee ballot deadline of 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

For problems that cannot be corrected, election officials said replacement ballots are issued the following day. The county also attempts to contact those voters by phone and email.

How does Buncombe compare with previous elections?

State election records from the 2022 midterm election show that some Buncombe County absentee ballots were rejected for problems including incomplete witness information, late returns and improper notarization.

But it’s difficult to make a direct comparison with this year’s election because voting is still underway and state guidance has changed how certain ballot problems are handled.

County officials did not provide a rejection rate for the same point in the 2022 election.

They also cautioned that a single voter may have an original ballot rejected, receive a replacement and eventually return a valid ballot.

It’s not yet clear how many of the 21 Buncombe County voters whose ballots were rejected because of unsealed envelopes have returned replacements.

Buncombe County election officials said they are continuing to process ballots and corrections as they arrive.

Voters with questions about their absentee ballots can contact Buncombe County Election Services at 828-250-4200. Absentee ballot data, updated daily, are available through the North Carolina State Board of Elections.