The North Carolina state has reported a significant drop in voter enrolment running into the current year, with numbers down by as many as 747,000 as a direct result of certain registrants being deemed invalid. This critical update on the state of affairs comes directly from the board that oversees election matters in the state. The comprehensive process, which lasted close to 20 months in total, saw on average, names being struck off the register at a rate of about 1,200 per day, culminating by August.
Eligibility of voters can be influenced by a myriad of factors. This list encompasses scenarios such as death or relocation of the registered voter, a previous felony conviction that disqualifies the individual, or them being recognized as having dual registration. Further circumstances could be failure to prove citizenship, lack of recent political involvement or sometimes on the voter’s own volition, through a deliberate, personal request for removal.
A closer analysis of the numbers shows that the lion’s share—nearly 290,000—of these recent removals, were primarily due to voters appearing on the list more than once since they had relocated within the state. This was followed closely by about 246,311 voters purged for an absence of participation in the last duo of federal elections, while death accounted for another 130,688.
Currently, the state boasts of over 7.7 million individuals in its registered voters’ list. But these numbers score even higher in significance due to the location—a battleground state. North Carolina has historically had its influence in determining the overall outcomes of the presidential elections, often being a swing vote.
The political temperature of the state of North Carolina seems to only intensify as we approach Election Day, with several legal challenges already looming over the voter enlistment process. An instance of such a contentious issue is a case in August where the local Republican Party, alongside the Republican National Committee (RNC), opened a lawsuit against the state’s elections board.
They argue the board committed an oversight with potential consequences that could influence more than 225,000 voters, by not gathering the necessary identifying information. This purported infraction is deemed by them to be in violation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), a federal law aimed at improving voting procedures and systems.
Further ramping up the legal contention, the GOP is also pursuing litigation challenging the state’s decision to recognize digital student IDs, issued by local university institutions, as a legitimate form of voter ID. The Republicans counter this, claiming state regulations do not back the use of digital identification in authentication for voting.
However, their argument on this particular issue was shot down by a state judge as early as this month. Undeterred, the party has since escalated their protest on the matter, moving it to the Court of Appeals in an attempt to dispute the initial ruling.
Being no stranger to battles in the courtroom, the election board recently suffered a legal setback in a confrontation with a past independent presidential candidate. The argument subsequently ended with an order from the state’s highest court, the North Carolina Supreme Court, that the candidate’s name be stricken off the state’s ballot.
The said candidate, while initially vying independently, confessed to experiencing stiff resistance in the polls which ultimately led to him suspending his campaign. He has since decided to lend his support to the Republican’s nominee, a previous holder of the nation’s highest office.
As we round off, let us not lose sight of the bearing of these events. They emphasize the need for voters to stay aware of their status and ensure they remain eligible. Our democratic duty as responsible citizens is to make sure that our voices are heard, and that requires being informed, ready, and registered to vote.
With the elections just a stone’s throw away, it is now more important than ever for every eligible voter in North Carolina to actively verify and reaffirm their eligibility. It is a call to individual action, a stirring reminder that every single vote matters and can significantly sway the final results.
While recent gales of litigation may seem to cast a shadow over the election landscape, it does bring one advantage; vigilance. It throws the spotlight on the oft-neglected duties of the voter. In that regard, always be aware of your status, for your voice does hold power, power that could drive the wheels of the state – and potentially – the nation.