Forget to Seal Your Mail-in Ballot? New State Elections Rule Adds Extra Step for Voters

NC elections board vote makes it easier to throw out mail-in ballots • NC Newsline

Forget to seal your mail-in ballot? New state elections rule adds extra step for voters

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A simple mistake when sending a mail-in ballot could have bigger consequences after the North Carolina State Board of Elections approved new absentee voting rules Monday. In a party-line vote, the Republican-controlled board adopted six rules, one of which would require an extra step from absentee voters who forget to seal [...]

New voter ID rules better adhere to state law

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) adopted several rule changes on July 16. The most controversial was a change from a requirement that county elections boards need a unanimous vote of board members who find grounds for a photo ID exception form to be false to a majority vote. The new rule better...

NCSBE adopts absentee rules critics say risk more rejections

On Monday, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) voted 3-2 along party lines on new permanent absentee ballot rules that once again have critics concerned will make it easier for ballots to be thrown out. Similar concerns were raised on Thursday, when the board voted on a series of voting rules, including in-person voting photo ID rules. Adam Steele, associate general counsel for the board, said about 650 comments were received thr…

NC elections board vote makes it easier to throw out mail-in ballots

Photo: Adobe Stock The North Carolina State Board of Elections approved on Monday a measure to disqualify certain absentee ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms.  Members voted 3-2 along party lines.  The measure allows county elections board staff to take further action on ballots with “irregularities.” Examples include not properly sealing a ballot or using the wrong type of envelope. Staff should contact voters, but without appropriate action, t…