North Carolina elections board vote makes it easier to throw out mail-in ballots

Court judge's gavel resting on an election ballot.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections approved on Monday a measure to disqualify certain absentee ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Members voted 3-2 along party lines.

The measure allows county elections board staff to take further action on ballots with “irregularities.” Examples include not properly sealing a ballot or using the wrong type of envelope. Staff should contact voters, but without appropriate action, the ballots may be tossed.

PROMO Miscellaneous - Open Mail Box Letters - iStock — iStock

Republicans say the change would enhance election security. Democratic critics say it would disenfranchise legitimate voters, and could be applied arbitrarily with political motives.

“I think it’s confusing,” Democratic board member Siobhan Millen said. “We’re going to lose perfectly sound ballots due to over-fussiness.”

“I don’t think it’s fussy. I don’t think it’s picky. I don’t think it’s hard,” responded Republican board member Angela Hawkins. Hawkins says voters confused by the container return envelope used in absentee voting may contact their local elections board for clarification.

She pointed out the proposal is legal under current state’s laws.

Fingers holding a pencil over an election ballot showing yes and no options — © Svanblar iStock-146069215

“If the General Assembly wants to change it, then that’s fine,” Hawkins said.

At the national level, President Donald Trump has slammed mail-in voting, claiming it contributed to “fraud” in the 2020 election. His allegations have not been proven.

North Carolina’s Rules Review Commission, made up of Republican appointees, needs to approve the change before it takes effect.

Last week, the elections board voted in favor of a rule to make it easier to throw out voters’ ballots if they don’t show photo identification.

Under the measure, an elections board could toss a ballot by majority vote if they think a voter is lying about their lack of photo ID. Current rules require bipartisan agreement.

This story was originally produced by North Carolina Newsline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Stateline, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.