Reporters and editors:
Please see the attached email sent to directors of county boards of elections about Wednesday evening’s court decisions in cases concerning absentee ballot deficiencies. Additional State Board guidance will follow, as outlined in the email.
In the meantime, the State Board provides the following guidance if election workers receive questions from voters whose ballots are on hold and who want to vote in person:
- If the status of a voter’s ballot is accepted or accepted-cured, it has been approved and they should not vote in person.
- If the voter’s ballot status is anything other than accepted or accepted-cured, they will be contacted as soon as possible if there is an issue with their ballot that requires action by the voter.
- If a voter’s ballot envelope has a pending deficiency and they present to vote in person, the voter will be given a regular ballot, and their absentee by-mail ballot will disapproved.
Statement from Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections:
“Wednesday evening’s rulings allow us to move forward to ensure all eligible voters can successfully cast a ballot in the general election. Already, more than 530,000 North Carolinians have cast their ballots by mail. In-person early voting beginning today across North Carolina, we encourage all eligible North Carolinians to exercise your right to vote.”
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