The North Carolina State Board of Elections, with a majority of Republican members, voted to implement new rules for mail-in ballots just hours before sending them out to voters. The changes will reject certain absentee ballots due to minor errors, such as unsealed inner envelopes or mismatched signatures. Under the new guidelines, only the voter, their near relative, or legal guardian can return a ballot. Democrats on the board and Governor Josh Stein have criticized the move, saying it could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Trump administration has been pushing for new rules that would restrict mail-in voting, citing concerns about voter fraud. However, experts and officials from both parties have expressed concern that these rules could lead to widespread disenfranchisement of voters. The USPS was ordered by President Trump to implement these changes, which include requiring election officials to add unique barcodes to ballot envelopes and upload lists of people who requested ballots. However, a federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked the implementation of these new rules, citing concerns that they would be "virtually impossible" to comply with.
The new rules were set to take effect just weeks before the midterm elections, which are scheduled for November 3. North Carolina became the first state to start sending out mail-in ballots on Friday, despite the uncertainty surrounding the new federal rules. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower court's block on the order, but it remains unclear whether these changes will be allowed to take effect.
Critics of the new rules argue that they are an attempt by the Trump administration to centralize control of elections and undermine state authority over voting procedures. Notably, President Trump himself votes by mail, as do about a third of all U.S. voters. The Supreme Court is currently considering the legality of these changes, but it remains unclear how this will ultimately affect the election process.
Meanwhile, election officials are warning that implementing these new rules could lead to millions of ballots going undelivered. A whistleblower has warned that there are "potentially catastrophic problems" with the new system for handling federal election ballot mail. The implementation of these changes is being closely watched by election officials and voters across the country, who are concerned about the potential disruptions to the midterms.
Written for “Trump Mail Voting Restrictions” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 3924 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
The GOP-majority North Carolina Board of Elections approved stricter rules for mail-in ballots Friday, just hours before the state became the first in the country to begin sending ballots for the midterm elections.
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state → approve → elections
The State Board of Elections voted along party lines to direct county officials to reject certain absentee ballots for certain errors that previously would not have prevented a vote from being counted.
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that → vote → vote
Republican board members said the changes are necessary to enforce state election law, while Democrats warned they could bar otherwise eligible voters from casting their ballots.
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they → say → ballots
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The biggest change involves problems with the envelope used to return a ballot.
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change → involve → ballot
In some cases, county officials previously had more flexibility to accept a ballot when it was clear which voter had cast it, despite an error with the envelope or paperwork.
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voter → have → envelope
Under the new guidance, election officials are instructed not to count ballots returned with an unsealed inner envelope or when required signatures do not match.
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signatures → instruct → envelope
Additionally, only the voters themselves or their near relative or legal guardian may return a ballot for it to be cast.
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it → return → ballot
“This is simply guidance, updated guidance, I might add, as to what the board and staff at the county level will do and how they will process things,” said Stacy Eggers, a Republican board member.
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Eggers → update → things
The changes came after proposed permanent absentee voting rules hit a procedural roadblock.
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rules → come → roadblock
The state Rules Review Commission approved a package of rules in July, but objections triggered a legislative review that prevented some of them from taking place before the November elections, as state lawmakers will not return until after voters head to the polls.
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voters → approve → polls
The NCSBE, which is composed of three Republicans and two Democrats, instead moved Friday to implement portions of the policy through memos to county election officials.
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which → compose → officials
Democratic member Siobhan Millen said the new rules risk disenfranchising otherwise eligible voters.
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rules → say → voters
“It may not affect you as you’re filling it out, but it affects whether your ballot counts — that’s huge,” she said.
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she → affect → it
“So, an effort to say this is just a process thing, I think is incorrect.”
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I → say → ?
Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) also criticized the decision and accused the board of circumventing the normal rulemaking.
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Stein → criticize → rulemaking
“The State Board’s decision is a slap in the face to voters who stood up to these changes and a blatant circumvention of the law,” Stein said on social media.
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Stein → stand → media
“North Carolina voters deserve transparency in their elections, not last-minute workarounds that could keep their vote from counting.
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that → deserve → vote
I will continue to stand up for voters’ access to the ballot box.”
North Carolina’s 100 county election boards began sending absentee ballots Friday to open the 2026 general election.
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boards → continue → election
The state requires completed civilian absentee ballots to reach county officials by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.
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state → require → Day
