Every eligible North Carolinian should be able to vote with confidence. That confidence depends on accurate information about election security and a commitment to protecting the freedom to vote. As early voting enters its final days, recent federal announcements about alleged noncitizen voting deserve careful scrutiny and context.
On October 15, the opening day of early voting, the U.S. Department of Justice announced indictments against 10 people accused of voting as noncitizens in the 2024 election. On October 29, during the final week of early voting, the department announced charges against 18 more people. The charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
At NC For The People, we believe officials must investigate credible allegations of ineligible voting and explain their findings responsibly. Public confidence also requires context about the scale of a problem and what the evidence establishes. Announcements made while voters are casting ballots can shape their understanding of the entire election. Federal officials should explain why they chose these dates to publicize cases involving the 2024 election.
The underlying eligibility rule is clear: only U.S. citizens may vote in North Carolina elections. The State Board of Elections describes multiple safeguards, including citizenship attestations under penalty of perjury, checks of identifying information against government records, and investigations when potential violations are identified. Its voter registration guidance notes that very few, if any, cases of noncitizen registration or voting are typically referred for prosecution statewide each year.
The available evidence does not support treating noncitizen voting as a widespread problem in North Carolina. The State Board itself says election officials do not have evidence that noncitizens appearing on the voter rolls is widespread. The recent charges warrant individual examination. They do not, by themselves, establish a coordinated effort to encourage intentional noncitizen voting.
Previously documented errors in the DMV registration process also deserve attention. In correspondence reported by WBTV, DMV Commissioner Paul Tine acknowledged instances in which applicants were incorrectly marked as U.S. citizens because of examiner or system errors. The State Board also acknowledges that some noncitizens may have been registered without their knowledge or misled about their eligibility.
Those earlier registration errors do not establish what happened in the newly charged cases. Each allegation requires its own evidence. They do show why an investigation must examine how a registration occurred and the circumstances surrounding any subsequent vote. Agencies should correct administrative failures and communicate eligibility requirements clearly.
Protecting election integrity also requires confronting the scale of voter nonparticipation. According to the State Board’s turnout data, approximately 26 percent of registered voters did not cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. That represents more than 2 million registered North Carolinians. It does not include eligible people who never registered.
The Missing Voters Report from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Dēmos examines a related participation gap. Using a different measure, it identifies more than 1.5 million eligible North Carolinians who were either unregistered or registered but had not participated in the two federal elections examined. These missing voters were more likely to be young, Black, or Latino.
For representative democracy, that absence matters. When eligible people do not participate, their communities have less say in the decisions that affect their lives. Public education should help people understand how to vote, resolve problems, and feel confident that their participation matters. Investigating individual allegations and helping eligible voters participate are both responsibilities of a healthy election system.
Across North Carolina, Election Protection organizations and community partners are working to help eligible voters get reliable information and assistance. At NC For The People, our message remains clear: eligible voters should be able to exercise their freedom to vote without fear or intimidation.
Early voting continues through 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Check your registration and voting location through the State Board of Elections, and seek help if a question or problem arises.
If you encounter a voting problem, experience intimidation, or have questions about voting, call the nonpartisan North Carolina Election Protection hotline at 888-OUR-VOTE (888-687-8683).