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UpdateNorth CarolinaThursday, October 22, 2026

North Carolina governor criticized new mail ballot rules after rejections doubled

The governor said new envelope and assistance rules approved in September are causing thousands of ballot rejections.

Reporting by
Democracy Docket
“‘Don’t let them take away your vote’: North Carolina governor slams ‘infuriating’ ballot rejections caused by new GOP restrictions”, Thursday, October 22, 2026
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What happened

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein condemned the state election board's new mail voting rules, saying they are causing thousands of absentee ballot rejections at twice the 2022 rejection rate. The board approved the rules in September in a party-line vote, requiring voters to seal an inner envelope before placing it in an outer envelope and limiting ballot assistance to near-relatives. Some Democratic strongholds are seeing rejection rates as high as 7 to 8 percent.1

A federal judge upheld the rules Monday after a pro-voting group sued to reverse them.1

twice the 2022 rejection rate
current absentee ballot rejection rate1
7 to 8 percent
rejection rates in some Democratic strongholds1

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

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Sources

  1. Democracy Docket, https://democracydocket.com/news-alerts/dont-let-them-take-away-your-vote-north-carolina-governor-slams-infuriating-ballot-rejections-caused-by-new-gop-restrictions · Thursday, October 22, 2026

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