The North Carolina State Board of Elections has renewed its request to the Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) for data it says is needed to keep voter rolls accurate. In a letter sent by Executive Director Sam Hayes to NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine, the State Board specifically asked for full Social Security numbers for registered voters who are also NCDMV customers. The agency states that this information would help officials match voter records more precisely with other government databases, identify duplicate registrations, and verify eligibility ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“Accurate voter rolls are essential to both voter access and election integrity,” Hayes said. “Full cooperation between our agencies will help ensure that only eligible voters are on the rolls, while reducing the risk of false matches that can undermine public trust.”
At its November 25 meeting, the State Board approved moving forward with a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This agreement would allow use of the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to check citizenship status in certain cases, in line with state and federal law.
Hayes cited Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 as legal support for sharing information between election officials and motor vehicle agencies to verify registration data accuracy.
The letter also refers to concerns raised earlier this year by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, about instances where non-citizens were inadvertently registered by NCDMV examiners.
“We take these concerns seriously and are committed to addressing them responsibly,” Hayes said. “Working with DMV to strengthen data-sharing is one of the most effective steps we can take to keep North Carolina’s voter rolls accurate and lawful.”
Hayes added that any transfer of data would be conducted securely and in compliance with all legal requirements.
The State Board oversees elections across all 100 counties in North Carolina, serving more than 7.6 million registered voters.
