Over the past 20 months, North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has removed 747,000 individuals from its voter registration rolls, citing ineligibility as the primary reason. Officials explained that many of those removed had moved without updating their address or had not voted in the last two federal elections, resulting in an inactive status.
The timing of this purge is significant, as North Carolina is expected to be a crucial battleground in the 2024 presidential race between President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, the state’s gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein is shaping up to be highly competitive.
Republicans had previously filed lawsuits accusing the state of neglecting to remove ineligible voters from the rolls, and the recent purge is being seen as a direct result of those efforts. However, Democrats have criticized the move, accusing Republicans of seeking to suppress votes in fear of losing the state.