State Board of Elections sends second round of registration repair letters

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina State Board of Elections has mailed a second round of registration repair letters to voters whose registration records are missing either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, according to a news release from the agency.

The State Board said the mailings were sent out Monday as part of its legal settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in the case United States of America v. North Carolina State Board of Elections. The agreement requires the agency to make multiple outreach efforts to ensure voters can provide the identification information necessary to update their registration records.

According to the State Board, voters can provide the required information in several ways:

• By mail: Complete and sign the form included at the bottom of the letter and return it using the enclosed prepaid envelope.
• Online: Voters with a North Carolina driver’s license or DMV-issued ID may update their registration through the secure NCDMV website here at no cost.
• In person: Visit the county board of elections office to provide the missing information. Registration updates cannot be made by phone.

“It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s free,” State Board Executive Director Sam Hayes said in the release. “We strongly encourage all voters who receive these letters to act as soon as possible. Providing this information now helps ensure a smooth experience the next time they vote.”

North Carolinians can check whether they are on the repair list through the Registration Repair Search Tool, which is updated daily. The State Board noted that voters who receive a letter but have already updated their registration and no longer appear on the list do not need to take further action.

Looking ahead, voters who show up to vote in person without having provided the required identification information will be directed to cast a provisional ballot. The provisional application will prompt for a driver’s license number or Social Security number, and once the information is validated, the ballot will count. Poll workers will receive training on the updated procedure, and flags will be added to affected voter records in poll books.