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UpdateNorth CarolinaTuesday, October 27, 2026

North Carolina disqualified hundreds of mail ballots over unsealed envelopes

Reporting by
NPR
“Hundreds of North Carolina ballots disqualified because of unsealed inner envelopes”, Tuesday, October 27, 2026
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What happened

Hundreds of North Carolina mail-in ballots have been disqualified because voters did not seal the inner envelope under a new rule added last month by the state's Republican-led elections board. State elections board spokesman Jason Tyson defended the rule as a safeguard against tampering. Brooks Fuller of Common Cause North Carolina called the rejections harmless oversights.1

What it means in North Carolina

What this means for North Carolina mail voters

The deadline to request a mail ballot in North Carolina was October 20, 2026.2 Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.2

Key dates in North Carolina

Election Day in 6 days
  1. Fri, Oct 9 · passed
    Registration deadline
  2. Thu, Oct 15 · passed
    Early voting begins
  3. Tue, Oct 20 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · 6 days
    Election Day; Mail ballots must arrive
  5. Fri, Nov 13 · 16 days
    County/Local certification
  6. Thu, Dec 10 · 43 days
    State certification

Every date in North Carolina, and who certifies the election

More on this story
North Carolina · Oct 25
Buncombe County rejected 45 absentee ballots for return errors
Reporting by WLOS local news
North Carolina · Oct 25
North Carolina governor's claim about mail ballot rejections contradicted by data
Reporting by WRAL
The answers behind this
Mail and early votingVoting in North Carolina, 2026How are votes counted and certified in North Carolina?Who certifies the election in North Carolina, and by when?

Explore this issue

OverviewUpdates In depthDOJ claimed over 400 noncitizens voted in Washington, ordered ballots set aside In depthMichigan voters returned 1.3 million ballots with one week until Election Day In depthNash County moved Sharpsburg polling place for Election Day In depthPima County officials said mail ballot delay claims were unfounded In depthArizona AG threatened to sue Maricopa recorder over 24 voters flagged In depthFake flyers mimicking real group appeared in Texas mailboxes In depthDemocrats sued to block Trump administration threats to election officials In depthNorth Carolina rejected more mail ballots after stricter rules In depthNorth Carolina governor criticized new mail ballot rules after rejections doubled In depthDOJ considering lawsuits to force states to investigate noncitizens on rolls In depthTwo Democratic lawmakers say they expect Trump to claim foreign meddling In depthTrump administration raised concerns about Chinese parts in voting machines

Sources

  1. NPR, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxNZS13UWY3WXJLQ2thX0ZKclFydmhMTlRVaWRtbHEwSV9MNXNOU0kzcjllaUtHNjJKQ3pscU1ER3p0Rk52c0JtNTgyYTl6OTdrTWNvSDBtMkhjT3FfZkNSMXdJb05XWGZzODdlNnE5WHJQemxWLU0tdEVjVnF5eGNOdGJRM0phZm8zYzdvcTRDcW9maFJrX1lMZmxYbExOMzJrZmhTRlNKZ0dPWG9KTDJac0d5M3BqOVluYzI4UEpEcVlreGJfRzVV?oc=5 · Tuesday, October 27, 2026
  2. Vote.org, North Carolina Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/north-carolina/

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