RALEIGH, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — State election officials are warning residents of a spike in complaints about deceptive voter registration tactics following reports of individuals impersonating government workers and providing false legal information.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBE) confirmed Friday that its Investigations Division is currently looking into allegations of misconduct spanning seven counties, including Wake, Buncombe, and Brunswick. The probe focuses on third-party registration drive workers who reportedly incorrectly told voters they must re-register to participate in upcoming elections, even if their status was current.
Under state law, registered voters are only required to submit a new application if they move to a different county. Updates for name changes, party affiliation, or address changes within the same county are encouraged but do not require an entirely new registration to remain eligible.
Investigators are also tracking reports of individuals going door-to-door while falsely claiming to be state or county election employees. “Government election workers do not go door-to-door for any reason,” the board stated in a press release, urging residents to verify the identity and organization of anyone soliciting personal information.
Officials also reported that some registration forms submitted by these drives are incomplete or contain blatant inaccuracies, including incorrect birth dates or identification numbers that do not match state records. Under North Carolina law, the falsification of a voter registration form is a Class I felony.
“This is unacceptable and hurts voter confidence,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board. Hayes noted that “When workers involved in voter drives falsify or alter information on registration forms, it can cause problems for innocent voters at the polls.”
Officials recommend that voters use the state’s official online “Voter Search” tool to confirm their status. The board also clarified that residents who fill out a form at a registration drive have the legal right to mail or deliver the document themselves rather than handing it back to the solicitor.
For more information about registering to vote visit: ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register
Evidence of misconduct can be reported directly to the State Board’s Investigations Division by calling the State Board office at (919) 814-0700, emailing detailed information to investigations.sboe@ncsbe.gov, or by completing and submitting an official Election Law Complaint Form.
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