North Carolina has more than 3,600 duplicate voter registration records, according to a complaint from an election watchdog.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation filed a complaint with the North Carolina State Board of Elections that identified 3,674 matched voter registration records across 94 of the state’s 100 counties.
The finding comes as one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country could determine control of the chamber. Former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper faces former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.
“North Carolina is not complying with the requirement to eliminate duplicate names from the official list of eligible voters,” the complaint says. “Absent relief, the November 3, 2026, General Election in North Carolina will be conducted using an inaccurate voter registration list.”
The complaint asserts that the 2002 federal Help America Vote Act requires states receiving federal grant money to maintain a uniform, centralized, interactive, computerized statewide voter registration list that is defined, maintained and administered at the state level and contains the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the state.
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Duplicate records include not only matching full names but also slight name variations or nicknames with the same address and birth date.
Earlier this month, the foundation reviewed records of the state’s 10 largest counties and found 1,200 duplicate registration records. The foundation conducted a broader evaluation and determined the statewide total of 3,674.
The complaint says that after the foundation notified the state board in September about the 1,200 records, the board did not respond.
While duplicate registration does not mean people are voting more than once, it could provide an opportunity to do so. Since 2015, the state has had 30 elections decided by one vote or ending in a tie, according to the foundation’s database of elections. The tally includes mostly local elections and three state legislative races.
In August, the North Carolina State Board of Elections launched the “Registration Repair Project” to collect identification numbers from registered voters who do not have an driver’s license/DMV ID number or social security number in the state’s voter registration database. It sent letters to 82,000 registered voters who did not provide the necessary information to election officials.
“North Carolina has made significant progress in cleaning up its voter rolls, and the board deserves credit for removing thousands of duplicate registrations,” PILF communications director Amanda Fischer said in a public statement. “PILF’s expanded review shows that more work is needed. Accurate voter rolls are vital to public confidence in elections.”
The North Carolina State Board of Elections did not respond to an inquiry from The Daily Signal.
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
