Sailor Jones

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North Carolina tightens mail-in ballot rules as 2026 voting begins

As of September 2026: Criticized the rules; said county data showed thousands of votes could be spoiled

North Carolina's new mail-in ballot rules survived a federal court challenge and stayed in force for the November 2026 election. On October 19, U.S. District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder refused to block the rules, saying voters who make envelope or signature mistakes can still request a replacement ballot or vote in person.

Updated Sep 5

Notable Quotes

This brazen action by Republican members of the state board — taken in spite of voters' objections to these rule changes and as absentee voting begins — is a violation of public trust.

from North Carolina tightens mail-in ballot rules as 2026 voting begins · Updated Sep 5

If the trends hold, we're looking at thousands of votes that could be spoiled because of this new guidance.

from North Carolina tightens mail-in ballot rules as 2026 voting begins · Updated Sep 5