NC Elections Board Advances Rules to Lower Photo ID Ballot Rejection Threshold
State elections board votes 3-2 to advance rules allowing county boards to reject photo ID exception ballots with simple majority instead of unanimous vote.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 Wednesday to advance proposed rule changes that would make it easier for county election boards to reject ballots from voters who lack photo identification.
Under the proposed changes, county boards would no longer need unanimous agreement to determine that voters lied about their reasons for not having photo ID. Instead, a simple majority of county board members could reject such ballots. Republicans currently hold three of five seats on county boards across the state.
60-Day Comment Period Begins
The state board’s two Democratic members opposed putting the proposals out for public comment. The 60-day comment period will allow public input before the board votes on any revisions. Final approval would require endorsement from the Rules Review Commission.
The changes affect voters who cast provisional ballots when they cannot provide photo ID at polling places. These voters must fill out exception forms explaining why they lack identification.
Current Rules Under Review
Current instructions requiring unanimous votes to determine voter dishonesty come from a “numbered memo” prepared by former state elections staff and distributed to county boards. Board Secretary Stacy “Four” Eggers IV, a Republican, noted that Republicans previously voted against these instructions when they held minority status on the state board.
“The numbered memo is an attempt essentially to undercut the requirement of photo ID,” Eggers said.
Board member Jeff Carmon, a Democrat, defended the existing unanimous requirement as protection against partisan decision-making. “We don’t want that issue to come into play for something as important as this,” Carmon said, arguing that determinations of voter truthfulness should not be vulnerable to partisanship.
Additional Polling Place Restrictions
The proposed rule package also includes restrictions on conduct at polling places. Democrats objected to provisions that would prohibit the use of bullhorns or amplifiers outside polling locations during voting hours.
The proposed changes are part of broader election rule modifications covering absentee ballots and polling place procedures. County boards would gain expanded authority to challenge ballots under the new framework, shifting from the current system that requires consensus among board members.
The state Board of Elections plans to review public comments submitted during the comment period before making final decisions on the proposed rules. Implementation would depend on subsequent approval from state regulatory authorities.
