North Carolina removes nearly 750,000 ineligible voters from its rolls, raising questions about election integrity and voter registration processes.
At a Glance
- North Carolina’s election board removed 747,000 ineligible voters over 20 months
- Removals due to various factors including change of residence, death, and felony convictions
- Republicans have raised concerns about voter fraud, filing lawsuits
- State officials emphasize the importance of list maintenance and compliance with laws
- North Carolina remains a key battleground state with close polling in upcoming elections
Massive Voter Roll Cleanup in North Carolina
In a significant move ahead of a tight election season, North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has removed 747,000 ineligible voters from its rolls over the past 20 months. This cleanup, averaging about 1,200 voter removals daily since the start of 2023, comes as the state prepares for highly competitive races in the upcoming election cycle.
The reasons for removal include voters moving to different counties or states, deaths, felony convictions, and personal requests for removal. Despite this substantial reduction, North Carolina’s voter registration still stands at approximately 7.7 million, indicating a 4.3% growth in the registered voter population over the past four years.
North Carolina removes 747,000 from voter rolls, citing ineligibility https://t.co/qHeREOmtYq
— The Hill (@thehill) September 26, 2024
Maintaining Voter Roll Integrity
Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, emphasized the importance of this maintenance process. She stated, “List maintenance is one of the primary responsibilities of election officials across North Carolina, and we take this responsibility seriously.” Bell also addressed concerns about misinformation regarding voter rolls, saying, “Unfortunately, there is a lot of false information out there about our voter rolls and the efforts we undertake to keep them up to date.”
“List maintenance is one of the primary responsibilities of election officials across North Carolina, and we take this responsibility seriously,” Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections, said in a press release. – Source
The removal of ineligible voters is a common practice in many states before elections. For comparison, Texas removed 1 million voters, while Oregon removed 1,200. These actions are part of ongoing efforts to maintain accurate and up-to-date voter rolls, which is crucial for ensuring the integrity of elections.
Republican Concerns and Legal Actions
Republicans have raised concerns about voter fraud, including a recent lawsuit in North Carolina. The GOP lawsuit claimed that voter registration forms in Wake County lacked required driver’s license and Social Security numbers. “By failing to collect certain statutorily required information prior to registering these applicants to vote, Defendants placed the integrity of the state’s elections into jeopardy,” the lawsuit stated.
“By failing to collect certain statutorily required information prior to registering these applicants to vote, Defendants placed the integrity of the state’s elections into jeopardy,” the GOP lawsuit read. – Source
In addition to the voter roll lawsuit, Republicans recently filed a separate legal action against the approval of digital IDs from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as valid voter ID. This lawsuit was rejected by a local judge, highlighting the ongoing debates surrounding voter identification requirements in the state.
Addressing Voter Fraud Concerns
While concerns about voter fraud persist, the North Carolina Board of Elections has noted that such concerns are often misplaced. In 2016, only two cases of relatives voting on behalf of deceased individuals were found in the state. Brinson Bell addressed the implementation of new voter photo ID requirements since the 2020 election, stating, “We have extremely little evidence that individuals are voting in the names of others in North Carolina elections, and the voter photo ID requirement will help ensure this does not happen.”
“We have extremely little evidence that individuals are voting in the names of others in North Carolina elections, and the voter photo ID requirement will help ensure this does not happen,” Brinson Bell said, referring to new requirements that came into play since the 2020 election. – Source
As North Carolina continues to be a key battleground state, with close polling between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the integrity of the voter rolls remains a critical issue. The state also faces a competitive gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, further highlighting the importance of accurate and up-to-date voter registration information.
