Listen to Reality, Not Rumors

The State Board of Elections started “Mythbuster Monday,” a social media series focused on debunking popular myths in North Carolina elections and elections at large. Misinformation can lead to confusion and damage the public’s trust in elections. Through these posts, we aim to educate the public and serve as a trusted source of election information.

We will update this page as new posts are published. To view these and much more, follow the State Board on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.

Have a question you’d like answered or a myth you want to be debunked? Email the State Board at misinformation@ncsbe.gov. For more regarding the effort to stop the spread of mis- and disinformation, visit Combating Misinformation.

Sept. 9

Reality: The state and county boards of elections never send mass mailings about your voter record or your neighbors’ voting records. Political groups — not elections officials — do this.
Rumor: Election administrators send annoying mass mailings.
Adapted from NCSBE’s X post: Sept. 9, 2024.

Aug. 19

Reality: Under state law, all voting systems used in North Carolina must use paper ballots, producing a paper trail that can be recounted and audited.
Rumor: North Carolina does not use paper ballots.
Adapted from NCSBE’s X post: Aug. 19, 2024.

Aug. 12

Reality: In North Carolina, poll workers may have to write on your ballot for various reasons.
Rumor: A poll worker writing on a ballot somehow invalidates it. See Fact: In NC, if an Election Worker Writes on Your Ballot, It Does Not Invalidate It.
Adapted from NCSBE’s X post: Aug. 12, 2024.

July 1

Reality: There is no evidence of any manipulation of North Carolina election systems in any election. Security precautions are in place, and audits and recounts demonstrate accurate results.
Rumor: The election management system is easily manipulated.
Adapted from NCSBE’s X post: July 1, 2024.

Jan. 1, March 25

Reality: Voting system hardware and software undergo testing from federal, state, and local election authorities.
Rumor: Voting systems are not tested and can be easily manipulated.
Adapted from NCSBE’s X post: Jan. 1, 2024.

Nov. 27

Reality: The State and county boards of elections never send mass mailings about your voter record or your neighbors’ voting records. Political groups — not elections officials — do this.
Rumor: Election administrators send annoying mass mailings.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Nov. 27, 2023.

Nov. 20

Reality: Many military and overseas voters, as well as provisional voters, would not have their ballot counted if counting stopped altogether on election night.
Rumor: Votes should stop being counted on election night.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Nov. 20, 2023.

Nov. 13

Reality: The State Board’s Investigations Division probes alleged election law violations and refers cases to prosecutors when warranted by evidence. Learn more: Investigations Divisions.
Rumor: No one investigates allegations of voter fraud in North Carolina.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Nov. 13, 2023.

Nov. 6

Reality: There is no evidence of any manipulation of North Carolina election systems in any election. Security precautions are in place, and audits and recounts demonstrate accurate results.
Rumor: The election management system is easily manipulated.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Nov. 6, 2023.

Oct. 30

Reality: In North Carolina, election workers must write on your ballot during early voting. This includes a unique number assigned to each ballot as required by law.
Rumor: Writing on your ballot invalidates it.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Oct. 30, 2023.

Oct. 23

Reality: Since 1964, more often than not, North Carolina voters have chosen presidential and gubernatorial candidates from different parties. Learn more: US President and NC Governor.
Rumor: In North Carolina, Democrats and Republicans can’t win statewide elections in the same year.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Oct. 23, 2023.

Oct. 16

Reality: The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires each polling place to have at least one voting machine accessible for voters with disabilities. Learn more: Voting Equipment.
Rumor: Polling places do not have accessible voting machines.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Oct. 16, 2023.

Oct. 2

Reality: College students may register and vote in the county where they go to school if they’re physically present in the school community, unless they plan to return home after graduation.
Rumor: College students must vote in their hometown.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Oct. 2, 2023.

Sept. 18

Reality: Provisional ballots cast by eligible voters are counted in every election regardless of result margins. Read more: Provisional Voting.
Rumor: Provisional ballots are only counted in close contests.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Sept. 18, 2023.

Sept. 11

Reality: Election officials routinely update voter registration lists in compliance with state and federal laws that protect against the improper removal of eligible voters.
Rumor: Election officials don’t clean the voter rolls.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Sept. 11, 2023.

Sept. 4

Reality: When you’re convicted of a misdemeanor in North Carolina, you don’t lose your right to vote. Incarcerated voters who committed a misdemeanor may cast an absentee ballot.
Rumor: If you’re arrested for a misdemeanor, you lose your right to vote.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Sept. 4, 2023.

Aug. 28

Reality: Under state law, all voting systems used in North Carolina must use paper ballots, producing a paper trail that can be recounted and audited.
Rumor: North Carolina does not use paper ballots.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Aug. 28, 2023.

Aug. 14

Reality: North Carolina voting equipment does not contain modem chips and state law prohibits voting machines from being connected wirelessly to any other device.
Rumor: A “chip” in the motherboard of voting equipment allows remote connections to equipment.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: Aug. 14, 2023.

July 24

Reality: There is no evidence of any manipulation of North Carolina elections systems. Security precautions are in place, and audits and recounts demonstrate accurate results.
Rumor: The election management system is easily manipulated.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: July 24, 2023.

July 17

Reality: Many military and overseas voters, as well as provisional voters, would not have their ballot counted if counting stopped altogether on election night.
Rumor: Votes should stop being counted on election night.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: July 17, 2023.

June 19

Reality: The state and county boards of elections NEVER send mass mailings about your voter record or your neighbors’ voting records. Political groups — not elections officials — do this.
Rumor: Election administrators send annoying mass mailings.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: June 19, 2023.

June 12

Reality: College students may register and vote in the county where they go to school if they’re physically present in the school community, unless they plan to return home after graduation.
Rumor: College students must vote in their hometown.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: June 12, 2023.

June 5

Reality: The Help America Vote Act requires each polling place to have at least one voting machine accessible for voters with disabilities. Learn more at Voting Equipment.
Rumor: Polling places do not have accessible voting machines.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: June 5, 2023.

May 22

Reality: To register to vote in a county, you must reside there. A person can reside in only one place for voter registration purposes.
Rumor: If I own a property in a county, I can register to vote there without establishing it as my residence.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: May 22, 2023.

May 15

Reality: North Carolina registrants weren’t required to provide a birth date until the 1990s. When date of birth was unknown, election officials would enter a placeholder as the voter’s birth date (1/1/1900 or 1/1/1901).
Rumor: Votes are fraudulently being cast by 122+year-olds.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: May 15, 2023.

April 24

Reality: Every vote counts! Elections are decided by those who show up. Municipal elections, which can be decided by one vote, take place throughout this year in North Carolina. View election statistics at Election Results Dashboard.
Rumor: My vote doesn’t matter.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: April 24, 2023.

April 17

Reality: When you move within your county, you must change your voter registration to your new address. Learn how to make voter registration changes at Updating Registration.
Rumor: I don’t need to update my registration if I move within my county.
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: April 17, 2023.

March 20

Reality: Since 1964, more often than not, North Carolina voters chose presidential and gubernatorial candidates from different parties. View the data at US President and NC Governor.
Rumor: In North Carolina, Democrats and Republicans can’t win statewide elections in the same year. 
Adapted from NCSBE’s Twitter post: March 20, 2023.