Updated with new analysis of voters who didn't vote in 2014 but have requested mail absentee ballots in 2018 (see below):
The latest numbers of North Carolina absentee by mail ballot requests, sent, and returned & accepted, along with various breakdowns/analyses by party registration, gender, region, and other aspects are below--these were tweeted out at @oldnorthstpol:
Requested as of 10-3-18 (reported 10-4-18): 35,209
Sent: 34,606 (98% of requested)
Returned and Accepted: 2,962 (8.4% of requested)