North Carolina State Board of Elections approves new absentee ballot rules

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has approved new rules regarding absentee ballots, a move passed by a 3-2 Republican majority. The new guidance addresses how absentee-ballot materials, specifically the inner and outer envelopes, must be sealed and returned.

Under previous protocols, certain envelope errors were classified as ‘non-material errors’ and the votes were counted. Under the new regulations, specific issues—such as ballots returned in the wrong envelope, unsealed envelopes, or inner envelopes that have been opened and resealed—may result in the ballot being rejected and a replacement being issued instead of the original being counted.

Democratic board members expressed concern regarding the timing of the decision and the potential for technical errors to disenfranchise voters. Republican members defended the measures as administrative guidance necessary to protect election security.