North Carolina State Board of Elections Approves New Mail-In Voting Restrictions Ahead of Midterm Ballots
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has approved new restrictions for mail-in voting, just hours before ballots for the 2026 midterm elections began to be sent out. These new rules, passed by a majority Republican State Board on Friday, September 4th, include two key changes. First, county election officials must now disqualify any mail-in ballot returned in an unsealed envelope, even if only an inner envelope is mistakenly unsealed. Previously, such an error was considered 'non-material' and the vote would still be counted. Second, the new rules restrict who can submit a ballot on behalf of a voter, limiting this to strictly close relatives or legal guardians. Governor Josh Stein criticized these changes, stating they are a 'slap in the face to voters' and a 'blatant circumvention of the law.' The State Board voted 3-2 along party lines to pass these memos, amidst ongoing federal litigation concerning mail-in voting restrictions. 
