Battleground North Carolina removes nearly 10% of voters over ineligibility

Karah Rucker

NORTH CAROLINA’S STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS REMOVED NEARLY 747,000 

INDIVIDUALS FROM ITS VOTER ROLLS IN THE PAST 20 MONTHS – OR NEARLY 10 PERCENT OF THE STATE’S REGISTERED VOTERS –

 A MOVE REFLECTING BROADER TRENDS IN VOTER ROLL MAINTENANCE ACROSS VARIOUS STATES –

LIKE TEXAS ANNOUNCING ONE MILLION VOTERS REMOVED LAST MONTH.

IN NORTH CAROLINA – THE PURGE OF VOTERS IS MOSTLY DUE TO “INELIGIBILITY” ACCORDING TO THE STATE BOARD.

MOST INDIVIDUALS WERE REMOVED FOR FAILING TO UPDATE THEIR REGISTRATION AFTER MOVING WITHIN THE STATE OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE LAST TWO FEDERAL ELECTIONS, LEADING TO AN INACTIVE STATUS. 

OTHER REASONS INCLUDED DEATH, FELONY CONVICTIONS, OUT-OF-STATE MOVES, AND PERSONAL REQUESTS FOR REMOVAL.

THE TIMING OF THE VOTER ROLL CHANGES FOLLOWS A GOP LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE STATE FAILED TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT INELIGIBLE VOTERS. 

THE LAWSUIT CLAIMED VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS IN WAKE COUNTY LACKED ESSENTIAL INFORMATION, POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZING ELECTION INTEGRITY. CONCERNS WERE ALSO RAISED ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF DIGITAL IDS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL FOR VOTING, THOUGH A LOCAL JUDGE DISMISSED THE CLAIM.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPHASIZED THAT ONLY INELIGIBLE RECORDS ARE REMOVED AND THAT NEW ELIGIBLE VOTERS ARE CONTINUALLY ADDED. CURRENTLY, NORTH CAROLINA HAS APPROXIMATELY 7.7 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS

THIS ACTION COMES AS NORTH CAROLINA, A PIVOTAL SWING STATE, PREPARES FOR THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

HISTORICALLY, THE STATE HAS LEANED REPUBLICAN, WITH ONLY ONE DEMOCRAT—BARACK OBAMA IN 2008—WINNING SINCE 2000. 

CURRENT POLLING SHOWS HARRIS AND TRUMP IN A DEAD HEAT, EACH RECEIVING 49% SUPPORT FROM LIKELY VOTERS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT MARIST POLL.

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