RALEIGH, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The North Carolina Board of Elections has green-lit a plan to bring the state into compliance with federal law.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which took effect in 2004, requires new voter registrants to provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. If they have neither, it must be indicated on the form.
Prior to 2024, North Carolina’s voter registration application did not make it clear that the numbers were required, leading some voters to register without providing the required information.
The state board unanimously approved a three-part plan to collect missing numbers from people on the NC voter rolls.
This means in July, the board will send a mailing to about 98,000 voters who registered after HAVA became effective but are missing this information in their records.
Those impacted will be able to vote provisionally until they provide the information.
This summer, 100 county boards of elections will review active voters for potentially missing information and correct registration dates in the database for people who registered before HAVA.
For future elections, in-person voters missing this information must cast a provisional ballot.
“I’ve said from day one that I am committed to bringing North Carolina into compliance with the law. I believe this three-part plan is the best way to ensure this happens,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We are making this process as simple and straightforward as possible for the affected voters.”
