Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against North Carolina for Voter Registration Issues
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Justice Department Sues North Carolina Over Voter Registration Accuracy
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina, alleging violations of federal law regarding voter registration record accuracy. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, targets the state and its election officials, claiming they haven't maintained accurate voter rolls as mandated by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).
The 19-page complaint specifically cites Section 303 of HAVA, which requires states to maintain a computerized statewide voter registration list and ensure voters provide identifying information like a driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The DOJ argues that North Carolina's voter registration form, until recently, didn't explicitly require this information, leading to a significant number of voters being added to the rolls without it.
The DOJ is seeking a court order requiring North Carolina to create a plan within 30 days to rectify the alleged HAVA violations. This plan would involve contacting affected voters, providing them with unique identifying numbers if needed, and updating election official training materials. The lawsuit follows a similar challenge to the 2023 election results, where a judge contested the ballots of roughly 60,000 voters.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), its executive director Sam Hayes, board members, and the state itself are named as defendants. The NCSBE acknowledged the issue with its voter registration form in 2023 and updated it, but the DOJ claims the agency failed to contact affected voters to obtain the necessary information before the upcoming 2024 elections. The new NCSBE chairman, Francis De Luca, has stated his commitment to fair elections and following the law. Hayes has stated he is committed to bringing North Carolina into compliance with federal law.
This lawsuit comes amidst a national focus on election integrity, with Republicans emphasizing the issue and critics accusing them of attempting to restrict voting access. Local elections in North Carolina are scheduled to begin in September.
BNN's Perspective: This lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate surrounding election integrity and voter access. While ensuring accurate voter rolls is crucial for fair elections, it's equally important to avoid actions that could disenfranchise eligible voters. Finding the right balance between these competing interests is essential for maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
Keywords: Justice Department, DOJ, North Carolina, voter registration, lawsuit, HAVA, Help America Vote Act, election integrity, voter rolls, voter ID, Sam Hayes, Francis De Luca, NCSBE, election officials, 2024 election, voter accuracy, federal law, election fraud, voter access.