North Carolina became the first U.S. state to mail ballots for the November midterm elections on Friday, while the state's Republican-led election board simultaneously approved stricter rules for absentee ballots just hours before the mailing began.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 along party lines to direct county officials to reject certain mail-in ballots for errors that previously would not have disqualified a vote. The changes were announced hours before the state began sending out ballots, marking the first such mailing in the country ahead of the November 3 elections.
Core Developments
- North Carolina mailed the first midterm ballots on Friday, with other states expected to follow in the coming days.
- The state's Republican-majority election board approved stricter absentee ballot rules hours before the mailing, directing officials to reject ballots with unsealed inner envelopes or signature mismatches.
Stricter Absentee Ballot Rules Approved
The new guidance from the North Carolina Board of Elections instructs county officials to reject ballots returned with an unsealed inner envelope or when required signatures do not match. Previously, election workers had more flexibility to accept ballots when the voter's identity was clear despite minor errors. Republican board members stated the changes are necessary to enforce state election law, while Democrats warned the rules could bar otherwise eligible voters from casting ballots.
Ongoing Legal Battles Over Mail Voting
The ballot mailing coincides with a broader legal dispute over mail-in voting rules pushed by the Trump administration. The changes would require states to submit mail ballot envelope designs to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for approval and limit ballot delivery to voters listed on state electoral rolls. A federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction against these plans last week, arguing they were unlikely to succeed and infringed on states' constitutional authority to run elections.
Rationale for Changes
Republican supporters of the stricter North Carolina rules argue the measures are needed to prevent voter fraud, though they have provided no evidence of widespread fraud. Critics contend the changes are intended to make mail voting more difficult, potentially disadvantaging Democrats, whose supporters are disproportionately likely to vote by mail.
Election Timeline and Stakes
All 435 House seats and about one-third of Senate seats are up for election on November 3. The mailing of ballots in North Carolina marks the official start of the midterm election process, with other states expected to follow in the coming days. It remains unclear what would happen to ballots already cast if courts later allow the Trump administration's postal service rules to take effect.