In a significant move ahead of the 2024 election, North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has removed 747,000 names from its voter rolls. The purge, which took place over the past 20 months, primarily affected individuals who either failed to update their address after moving or who were marked inactive after not voting in the last two federal elections.
This announcement comes as North Carolina prepares for a high-stakes election season, with the state being a pivotal battleground in the presidential race between President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Additionally, North Carolina’s gubernatorial race between Democrat Josh Stein and Republican Mark Robinson is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the country.
The state board noted other reasons for removal, including deaths, felony convictions, and out-of-state relocations. Republicans had filed lawsuits accusing the state of neglecting to remove ineligible voters from the rolls, and this latest purge is seen as a victory for GOP efforts to ensure voter integrity. Democratic critics, however, had accused Republicans of using such tactics out of fear of losing the election.
Adding to the controversy, a Wake County resident had filed a lawsuit claiming that voter registration forms were missing key information, such as driver’s license and Social Security numbers, further questioning the integrity of the state’s election process.
With 7.7 million registered voters now on the rolls, North Carolina’s ability to manage its voter list will be a key issue as the 2024 election approaches. The removal of nearly 750,000 ineligible voters has sparked further debate over election security and the measures necessary to ensure the accuracy of voter rolls.
