In a significant move ahead of the 2024 elections, the state of North Carolina has purged over 747,000 ineligible voters from its voter rolls. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, the removals took place over a 20-month period, ensuring that the state's voter lists are up-to-date and accurate. The board explained that the vast majority of the removals—89.2%—were due to voters being listed as inactive, duplicates, or deceased. This measure is part of an ongoing effort to uphold the integrity of the voting process in the battleground state.
Election officials stressed that such routine maintenance is necessary to prevent inaccuracies and reduce the risk of voter fraud. The timing of the removals is critical as North Carolina gears up for the 2024 presidential and gubernatorial races, both of which are expected to be highly contested. North Carolina has long been seen as a key battleground, with both Republicans and Democrats vying for control in a state that has recently seen razor-thin margins in statewide elections.
BREAKING: The North Carolina Election Board just revealed that they have removed 750,000 names from the voter rolls, including 130,000 dead people and 290,000 registrations that were duplicates
This comes after Republicans filed a lawsuit, showing 225,000 names were unlawfully… pic.twitter.com/sU98iLraiT
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 26, 2024
Republicans, who have been vocal about election integrity concerns, view this action as a necessary step in preventing potential fraud. On the other hand, some Democrats have raised concerns about the possible disenfranchisement of eligible voters. They argue that aggressive purges may remove legitimate voters who, for example, haven't participated in recent elections but still intend to vote in future ones. However, state officials assure that voters removed from the rolls can re-register if they remain eligible.
The push to clean up voter rolls is part of broader efforts across the country to address election security. Other states, such as Georgia and Florida, have also enacted measures to ensure their voter lists are current, with similar purges aimed at weeding out ineligible names.
Donald Trump and his appointed RNC Chair Michael Whatley pushed Mark Robinson on North Carolina voters. They knew who Robinson was, and they didn't mind it until they were losing. pic.twitter.com/mH411wouWv
— American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) September 20, 2024
North Carolina has been at the center of election integrity debates in recent years. In 2018, the state faced national attention when allegations of absentee ballot fraud led to the invalidation of a congressional race. The controversy fueled calls for tighter controls and more oversight in election processes. In response, the state has taken multiple steps to prevent future incidents, including implementing voter ID requirements and increasing transparency in the handling of absentee ballots.
Republicans have consistently supported such measures, citing the need to secure the election system from fraudulent activities. They argue that maintaining an accurate voter roll is a fundamental part of protecting the right to vote. Democrats, while agreeing on the importance of voter integrity, warn against actions that might suppress voter turnout, especially among minority and lower-income communities, who tend to vote in lower numbers and may be more affected by purges.
The voter roll maintenance process has already drawn criticism from civil rights organizations, who claim that some voters could be wrongly removed. They are urging residents to check their voter status well ahead of election day to ensure they are still listed as eligible voters. Advocacy groups are also working to educate voters on how to re-register if they find themselves removed from the list.
As the 2024 election draws nearer, these types of voter roll updates will likely continue to be a focal point of political debate, particularly in key battleground states like North Carolina. With early voting and absentee voting playing a growing role in the electoral process, ensuring the accuracy of voter lists will be crucial for both parties as they work to energize their bases and turn out the vote.
