North Carolina Senate Passes 28-13 Voting Bill Tightening Registration and Cutting Early Primaries
Updated
Updated · Democracy Docket · Jul 29
North Carolina Senate Passes 28-13 Voting Bill Tightening Registration and Cutting Early Primaries
3 articles · Updated · Democracy Docket · Jul 29
Summary
A 28-13 party-line Senate vote sent the North Carolina elections bill back to the House after senators added provisions easing voter-roll purges and shortening early voting in primaries, runoffs and special elections.
The revised measure cuts those early-voting periods to 10 days from 17, requires registration applications to affirm U.S. citizenship, and orders a state process to remove ineligible residents flagged in federal data.
It also mandates weekly removal of deceased voters, extends the window for challenging early-voting ballots, and requires the DMV to share full Social Security numbers with election officials for list maintenance.
Democrats said the changes would suppress voting and enable mass challenges, while Republicans argued they would reduce administrative burdens and improve election integrity; protesters chanted from the gallery during the vote.
If the House accepts the Senate changes, the bill goes to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who has said he is likely to veto it, though it is unclear whether Republicans can override.