The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against the State of North Carolina and its State Board of Elections, accusing the state of violating the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The core of the dispute centers on the state’s voter registration practices and their compliance with federal requirements for maintaining accurate and secure voter rolls. The DOJ asserts that North Carolina’s current voter registration form does not adequately direct applicants to provide essential identifying information, such as a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number. Failure to meet these requirements, according to the filing, has resulted in inaccuracies that could compromise the integrity of election processes.
In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the DOJ highlighted that a significant number of voters in the state have registered without meeting HAVA’s requirements for identifying numbers. These shortcomings are said to persist despite the state’s attempts at correction, which included updating the voter form in late 2023. However, the state did not take steps to contact voters registered prior to 2004 to obtain the required information, leaving a gap in compliance. Lawyers from the DOJ are seeking a court order to require the state to develop a plan to identify and correct these discrepancies within 30 days, including a process to contact and update the records of affected voters.
The lawsuit also references the impact of previous legal challenges, including a 2023 state election board issue where the board acknowledged problems with voter registration forms. Additionally, the DOJ notes that the Trump administration has been actively pursuing efforts to combat what it perceives as threats to election integrity, through executive orders and litigation. This case further aligns with broader efforts to ensure the legality and transparency of voting processes in the United States. The state and national GOP had previously raised concerns about similar discrepancies, estimating that nearly 225,000 voters were affected, though the federal courts did not intervene prior to the general election.
These legal actions are part of a larger context of ongoing scrutiny over election processes and the role of federal oversight in ensuring compliance with established voting laws. The DOJ’s involvement underscores the significance of maintaining accurate and secure voter registration records as a cornerstone of democratic integrity. Despite the state’s recent transition to a Republican-majority board, the administration remains committed to addressing these compliance issues as per the DOJ’s request, indicating a potential shift in the state’s approach towards federal regulations.