Mail-in voting Coverage

Voting rights groups sue over new NC elections law, seeking to block changes for 2024

Lawsuits by voting rights groups and Democrats say new state laws contain new provisions that will unfairly cancel people's ballots or lead to voter intimidation at the polls.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

How new NC election laws could strengthen GOP's grip on state and national politics

A GOP-backed change to election rules could let North Carolina legislators ultimately pick who wins the state in future presidential elections. Republicans say it's needed for election integrity. Democrats call it a power-grab.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Fact check: Cooper says elections bill would toss ballots 'if a computer rejects a signature'

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper recently vetoed a GOP-authored elections bill, arguing that it could disenfranchise people who vote by mail.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Editorial: State's high court must uphold the law not partisanship

Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 -- Courts have the authority - the duty - to review the acts of the legislative and executive branches of government to determine their constitutionality. The justices of North Carolina's Supreme Court need to live up to that fundamental responsibility. Further, they should do it in a transparent manner assuring North Carolinians it is the law and constitution that comprises the foundation for their decisions.

Editorial: Proposed law aims at GOP partisan advantage, not election integrity

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 -- Gov. Cooper should veto this transparently partisan bill aimed at giving Republicans advantage at the polls. Legislators should seek to provide election rules that work to encourage and enable all eligible voters to cast ballots by Election Day and assure that every properly cast ballot is accurately counted.

NC lawmakers pass changes to election laws

When Trump lost the 2020 election, he claimed it was rigged by mail-in ballot fraud. Many of Trump's supporters have been contacting NC lawmakers, demanding the GOP-led legislature change the rules.

How Trump inspired North Carolina's new push to eliminate 'grace period' for mail-in ballots

When Trump lost the 2020 election, he claimed it was rigged by mail-in ballot fraud. Many of Trump's supporters have been contacting NC lawmakers, demanding the GOP-led legislature change the rules.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter, and Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

Editorial: Elections bills impose solutions where there are no problems

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023 -- Rather than erecting more impediments to getting qualified citizens to cast ballots, our legislators should be devoting their focus in exploring and enacting laws that encourage ALL those who are qualified to get registered and make it more convenient to vote.

Sweeping election law changes moving forward again in NC legislature, ahead of 2024 elections

Supporters of the changes have said the bills are needed for election integrity. Opponents say the proposals are really intended to suppress voter turnout by making it harder for people to vote, especially by mail.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: 'Jumbo jet of voter suppression'

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Editorial: Bipartisan local voting officials rightly warn GOP bills will 'harm' election integrity

Monday, July 16, 2023 -- The warnings offered by these knowledgeable and properly concerned local elections officials must be heeded and the misguided GOP elections legislation dropped.

Local election officials say proposed NC election changes would be 'disruptive'

"Some of the current proposals, if implemented, may have unintended consequences that can harm rather than protect the integrity of our elections," the letter from the Election Boards Association of North Carolina said.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

DRAUGHON DRAWS: GOP ballot "security"

Friday, June 23, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Election integrity or voter suppression? NC Senate approves big changes for future elections

Two wide-ranging, GOP-backed election bills came up in the state Senate Wednesday over objections from Democrats who say the changes will lead to gridlock and could force thousands of legitimate ballots to be thrown in the trash in future elections.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

New voting restrictions set to advance

Two new bills aimed at changing North Carolina's rules for voting, and how elections are administered, are expected to quickly advance in the state Senate after an initial debate Wednesday.

NC lawmakers hold hearing on proposed election changes

Two new bills aimed at changing North Carolina's rules for voting, and how elections are administered, could advance in the state Senate as early as Thursday.

Elections overhaul poised to advance in NC legislature amid protests by voting rights advocates

Two new bills aimed at changing North Carolina's rules for voting, and how elections are administered, could advance in the state Senate as early as Thursday.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter & Laura Leslie, Capitol Bureau Chief

'We're being gaslighted': NC Democrats say proposed new voting rules are about helping GOP, not fighting fraud

North Carolina Republicans have proposed changing many election laws ahead of 2024 that could make it harder to vote, saying they're trying to improve faith in elections. Democrats say it's a cynical ploy to throw out legitimate ballots.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

NC Republicans downplay Trump attorney's role in election law changes

Senate leader Phil Berger said Cleta Mitchell, one of then-President Donald Trump's main attorneys during the 2020 election, "has had no role in the crafting of this legislation."

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

North Carolina Republicans file bill that would reduce early voting

Republicans say their proposals are intended to restore public trust in elections -- and deny that their actions are as racially motivated as courts have said.

Citing GOP election misinformation, NC Democrats propose sweeping voting rights bill

Democratic lawmakers propose online voter registration, more funding for elections officials, bigger punishments for voter intimidation and anti-gerrymandering reform.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Closing the door on the 2022 election

Throughout this election season, we've been taking you behind the scenes in our NC Votes 101 series. Canvass day marks the end of that season. It's when counties make their results official, 10 days after Election Day.

NC counties close the books on 2022 elections

Throughout this election season, we've been taking you behind the scenes in our NC Votes 101 series. Canvass day marks the end of that season. It's when counties make their results official, 10 days after Election Day.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Editorial: With worries of disruptions, just be polite at polling places

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 -- With expectations of a strong voter turnout, everyone will need to be on their best behavior - be polite and follow appropriate etiquette - so every qualified voter is able to cast a ballot and each of those properly cast ballots is accurately counted.

Inside look at how and when mail-in votes get counted

When a mail-in ballot arrives at the county board of elections, it's checked in by county workers. They first look at the outside envelope to make sure there are no problems with it.