State Board of Elections Coverage

NC needs more elections staff for 2024, top official tells lawmakers in voter ID update

Approximately one in every three counties in North Carolina will have its 2024 elections led by someone who has never handled a presidential election before. It's causing concerns for state elections director Karen Brinson Bell.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

'Are we ready?': Elections experts ring alarm bells over AI, deepfakes as 2024 races heat up

The Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity agency sent warnings and tips to elections officials in North Carolina and elsewhere on how to fight schemes using artificial intelligence to spread misinformation.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Nearly half of NC Trump supporters lack trust in elections, WRAL News poll finds

Past election audits in North Carolina have found that even if all allegations of voter fraud turned out to be true, it would affect only a fraction of a percent of the vote and wouldn't have changed any results.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC election results could be 30 minutes late this year. Why that's now leading to conspiracy theories

A law Republicans wrote to improve confidence in North Carolina elections ahead of the 2024 elections is now creating new conspiracy theories among conservative voters.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Friday is voter registration deadline, how to still register if you miss it

Friday is the deadline to get your voter registration in the mail for the upcoming primary election. But if you miss this one, you have one more option to be able to cast your ballot!

Democratic lawmaker seeks to give NC elections board power to remove candidates from ballot

As the U.S. Supreme Court convened Thursday to decide whether states can disqualify presidential candidates from their ballots, a Democratic North Carolina senator says he'll file a bill to give the state elections officials that authority. It's unlikely to be allowed a hearing by Republican state House and Senate leaders.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Challenge fails: Johnston County School Board member will face party rival in March

Embattled Johnston County School Board member Ronald Johnson will face a primary challenger in March after a unanimous decision by the state board of elections Wednesday afternoon. WRAL capitol bureau chief Laura Leslie details the history between the two candidates.

Johnston school board member to face GOP primary challenge after legislative change

Embattled Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson will face a GOP primary challenger in March after state legislators changed the law to make a direct challenge by another Republican easier.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

GOP candidate linked to extremist views wins battle to be on primary ballot

The political battle out of Rockingham County has gained a higher profile than many such candidate challenges, in part because of the NCGOP's concerted push to block Joseph Gibson from running for a state House seat.

NC political candidate, who denies Nazi beliefs, will be allowed on 2024 ballot

The political battle out of Rockingham County has gained a higher profile than many such candidate challenges, in part because of the NCGOP's concerted push to block Joseph Gibson from running for a state House seat.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Lt. Gov. Robinson needs to answer questions of campaign finance irregularities

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 -- Campaign finance matters are more than concerns for political insiders. They are about the integrity of the candidates and their campaigns. All candidates should endeavor to establish unquestioned credentials.

Rockingham elections officials ordered to re-hear challenge over GOP House candidate

Rockingham County elections officials barred Joseph Gibson, an outspoken conservative activist, from ballots. State elections officials now want the county to reconsider a challenge to his candidacy.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

JAY CHAUDHURI: On Jan. 6, the General Assembly's leadership needs to make this pledge

Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 -- The General Assembly leadership should expressly and unequivocally pledge they will not appoint insurrectionists, seditionists, and election deniers to our county boards of elections.

NC same-day voter registration lawsuit hits impasse

The fate of the state's new law governing same-day registration is back in the hands of a federal judge after the parties involved failed to reach a compromise this week.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Editorial: State Elections Board works to diminish photo ID as impediment to voting

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 -- There will be no shortage of efforts to confuse voters between now and Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. At least when it comes to photo ID, the N.C. State Board of Elections is seeking to keep things simple and direct.

Should Trump be banned from ballot in North Carolina? State courts could soon decide

A legal filing claims Donald Trump is ineligible to be president, and that allowing him to run in the GOP primary election would be unfair to North Carolina Republicans since if they vote for Trump in the primary they could be wasting their chance to vote for an eligible candidate.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court needs to act quickly, not delay, on Trump's ballot status

Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 -- The U.S. Supreme Court needs to do its job, to take up and resolve Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity. Trump deserves to know his status as a candidate. More importantly, voters deserve to cast meaningful ballots and they MUST know Trump's status BEFORE they vote.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: N.C. Republicans' wish for Santa

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Trump will be on NC ballots for 2024 primary after elections officials dismiss complaint

The State Board of Elections, made up of political appointees of three Democrats and two Republicans, voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint seeking to disqualify Trump from running for office.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Recent election exposes voter photo ID problems that need fixing

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 -- Candidates, local and state election administrators and voters have much at stake in making sure voter ID procedures accomplish important objectives -- ensuring the voters casting ballots are, in fact, who they claim to be and more critical, making sure all eligible voters have easy and accessible ways to cast ballots.

Editorial: Don't prohibit convicts who've served their time from voting

Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 -- North Carolina laws and policies should work to encourage convicts after they've served their time behind bars to fully and effectively reintegrate into society - to understand and engage in the obligations to their community.

Second shot coming for colleges, local governments to get student and employee IDs OK'd as voter ID

North Carolina colleges, local governments and state agencies that want their student and employee identification cards to satisfy the state's new voter ID requirements will have another chance next month to submit them for approval.

WRAL News staff

Cooper sues over new GOP-backed election rules he says will 'undermine fair elections' in NC

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper sued Republican legislative leaders Tuesday, saying recent changes in elections law are unconstitutional. It's the latest in a string of lawsuits over the new rules, including another filed Tuesday by voter rights groups.

Travis Fain and Will Doran, WRAL state government reporters

GOP lawmakers reject Cooper vetoes, enacting new laws for election oversight, looser environmental protections

From big changes in election laws to loosening environmental regulations, GOP state lawmakers voted Tuesday to override five vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

Laura Leslie, Will Doran and Travis Fain, WRAL News

MICHAEL WINES: In N.C., GOP seeks more control over elections

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023 -- The GOP-led legislature may seize control of state and local election boards from the Democratic governor, fueling a feud that could resonate in 2024.