Federal judge upholds North Carolina's strict mail-in ballot rules for midterms

Federal Judge Thomas D. Schroeder ruled Monday that North Carolina can keep its tightened mail‑in ballot rules for the November election, after the state altered the regulations just before the September mailing deadline. The decision leaves the witness‑signature requirement, limited drop‑box locations and shortened processing times in place for the upcoming vote.

The rules stem from a 2021 law passed by the Republican‑controlled General Assembly in response to the 2020 election. That law mandated a signed witness for every absentee ballot, restricted drop boxes to early‑voting sites, and gave counties only three days to verify and count mailed ballots. Voting‑rights groups sued, arguing the measures would suppress turnout among minorities, seniors and low‑income voters. A 2023 federal ruling struck down key provisions, prompting the state to tweak the regulations just weeks before ballots were printed and mailed for 2024.

Schroeder said the changes were made too close to the election to be altered again, invoking the “Purcell principle” that courts should avoid disrupting election administration. He noted that North Carolina had already printed and distributed ballots under the new rules and that any further shift could cause confusion. The ACLU, which led the lawsuit, called the ruling a setback for voter access, while Republican officials praised the decision as a safeguard for election integrity.

The plaintiffs said they will appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and may seek a stay before the November vote. Election officials are moving ahead with training poll workers on the witness requirement and monitoring the limited drop‑box sites. The case adds to a wave of nationwide litigation over mail voting as the 2024 presidential election approaches, and could influence how other states structure absentee‑ballot rules in future contests.