Here’s what voters need to know.
In recent developments, North Carolina has taken significant steps to maintain the integrity of its voter registration rolls. Over the past 20 months, the State Board of Elections has removed approximately 747,000 individuals from the voter lists due to various ineligibility reasons. This proactive measure underscores the commitment to ensuring that only eligible voters participate in our democratic process.
The Board of Elections emphasized that local county boards adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring that they only remove ineligible records, preserving the rights of those who are eligible to vote. As North Carolina continues to grow, the number of newly registered voters is also on the rise, currently totaling nearly 7.7 million registered voters in the state.
A significant portion of the removals resulted from individuals changing their addresses without updating their voter registration. Additionally, those who did not participate in the last two federal elections and failed to respond to inquiries from election officials were also removed. Other factors leading to removal included death, felony convictions, voluntary withdrawal from the rolls, and lack of U.S. citizenship.
In the political arena, a recent Marist Poll shows a competitive landscape, with former President Trump and Vice President Harris tied at 49% among likely voters in North Carolina. A remarkable 91% of those who expressed a preference stated they strongly support their chosen candidate, indicating a passionate electorate as we approach the election.
Historically, North Carolina has been a battleground state. While it last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, Trump secured a solid victory in 2016, followed by a narrower win against Biden in 2020. As we head into this election cycle, absentee voting has commenced, allowing registered voters to participate more easily, including military and overseas voters.
As North Carolina prepares for the upcoming elections, maintaining the integrity of voter rolls while ensuring accessibility for eligible voters remains crucial for our democratic process.