North Carolina Distributes Mail Ballots Despite Trump’s Ongoing Assault on Voting Rights
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North Carolina has begun mailing ballots for the 2024 midterms, even as lawsuits challenge a Trump-imposed executive order designed to suppress mail-in voting. Officials warn that these right-wing restrictions, coupled with Postal Service issues, threaten to disenfranchise voters and sow confusion.
North Carolina became the first state to begin widespread mailing of ballots for the 2024 midterm elections on Friday, bravely moving forward even as the courts deliberate over a presidential executive order that would impose new, restrictive limits on mail voting. State election officials, determined to protect democratic participation, said they will continue to mail ballots as planned and are prepared to run a secure election, regardless of whether the order—signed by Trump to appease his base—is upheld.
“We believe that we are well positioned,” Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections, told reporters, emphasizing the commitment to voter access.
The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump in March, would force states to submit voter eligibility lists through an online portal that remains inactive, and would mandate new envelope designs with barcodes—an unnecessary hurdle that risks voter privacy and access. On Friday, a preliminary injunction blocking this order was issued, but the administration has already appealed, showing their relentless pursuit of voter suppression.
Election administrators noted that the media coverage of this legal battle has generated widespread confusion among voters. “The biggest part of this is that it has sparked questions about what it is. ‘What does this mean? What are you guys doing? Can I not vote by mail anymore?’” said Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. He reassured the public that mail voting remains “a safe and secure process,” despite the right-wing fearmongering.
In Wake County, staff are working tirelessly to process absentee requests, code ballots, and prepare packets that include a ballot, instructions, and photo-ID flyers; about 5,000 ballots are slated for the first mailing wave. Officials are also ensuring a quick turnaround for military and overseas voters, who can use an online portal to request ballots, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the executive order, argued that the proposed changes are “far too late in the election cycle” and would cause “significant harm, confusion and disruption.” The State Board of Elections, which has a Republican majority, said it has taken initial steps to comply with the order, such as submitting envelope designs for Postal Service review, but has not submitted voter data while litigation continues—a small victory for privacy and democracy.
Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service faces criticism over operational changes that some states say have led to a rise in rejected mail ballots due to delayed postmarks. The agency claims its standards are unchanged, but offers only a manual postmark option at local post offices, further complicating the process for voters.
Other states, including Alabama, plan to begin mailing ballots in September, with all states required to send ballots to military and overseas voters by mid-month. Legal experts note that the window for major election-system changes for this cycle has passed, and several advocacy groups have filed papers supporting states in the fight against these new, undemocratic postal rules.