The North Carolina State Board of Elections passed new mail-in ballot guidelines in a split vote on Friday. This action occurred hours before the state began distributing absentee ballots to voters. The update dictates how county officials process and accept returned mail-in ballots throughout the upcoming election cycle.
New Standards for Mail-in Ballots
The approved policies establish clear conditions for when an election worker must spoil a mail-in ballot. If an inner envelope containing a ballot arrives unsealed, officials are directed to spoil that ballot rather than count it. Under this new protocol, the voter will receive a notification and a replacement ballot. They retain the option to cast their vote in person instead.
Additional requirements specify that only a near relative or a legal guardian may deliver a mail-in ballot in person for a voter. If a return envelope contains more than one ballot, the system requires officials to spoil the entire set. Signatures that fail to match the name assigned to the application number on the envelope will also trigger a spoiled ballot status. Board member Stacy Four Eggers stated that these changes provide guidance for staff at the county level and do not alter the experience for voters casting their choices. Conversely, Democratic member Siobhan Millen noted that these guidelines directly influence whether a ballot counts, characterizing them as a significant shift in procedure.
Bypassing the Rulemaking Process
The board’s Republican majority pushed this vote forward despite recent legislative hurdles. Previously, the board attempted to codify these standards as permanent rules. Although the state’s Rules Review Commission supported the proposals, the plan stalled after receiving ten formal objections. State law mandates a legislative review when such volume of public dissent occurs, delaying the formal enactment of the rules.
By utilizing numbered memos, the board bypassed the standard permanent rulemaking process. Millen criticized this approach as an end run around the procedures the board claimed to support. Eggers countered that the action remains justified because the Rules Review Commission already offered unanimous support for the proposals. He expects these memos to transition into permanent rules after the legislature conducts its session.
Implications for North Carolina Voters
North Carolina holds the distinction of being the first state to mail out ballots this year. This timing adds weight to the new administrative requirements. Election officials operate under a strict timeline for the November 3 general election. Voters must ensure their ballots arrive at the county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Citizens who need to request an absentee ballot have until October 20 at 5 p.m. to submit their applications via the state portal. Officials suggest acting well before the deadline to account for potential mail delays. Those who prefer to avoid mailing their ballots can drop them off at designated early voting sites. Voters can verify the status of their submitted ballot using the BallotTrax online service throughout the counting process. The broader political atmosphere remains tense as federal courts currently block other attempts by the administration to impose additional restrictions on absentee voting in various states.