South Raleigh News

The Republican National Committee (RNC), the North Carolina GOP (NCGOP), and a North Carolina voter have filed a lawsuit challenging the North Carolina State Board of Elections’ (NCSBE) policy regarding absentee ballot security envelopes. The lawsuit argues that the NCSBE's policy, which allows absentee ballots to be counted even if they are not returned in sealed container-return envelopes, violates state law and compromises ballot safeguards.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley commented: "This decision by the NCSBE is inconsistent with state law and diminishes protections for absentee ballots. We have filed suit to uphold election integrity and ballot safeguards. State law lays out clear requirements, and the NCSBE must follow them — we will continue to fight for election integrity in the Old North State.”

The issue centers on revisions made by the NCSBE to Numbered Memo 2021-03, which governs various aspects of absentee voting. The revised memo states that absentee ballots do not need to be returned in sealed container-return envelopes to be counted, conflicting with statutes that require such measures.

On May 20, 2024, the RNC, NCGOP, and NRCC sought a Declaratory Ruling from the NCSBE on whether this instruction was contrary to state law. On July 29, 2024, the NCSBE voted against their position and upheld the revised instruction in Numbered Memo 2021-03. A written opinion was issued on August 2, 2024.

In response, the RNC, NCGOP, and an individual voter are seeking judicial intervention to compel the NCSBE to adhere to existing election laws.

Read the complaint HERE.