In a move highlighting ongoing election integrity concerns, the Trump administration sued to block voter fraud as the voter registration records are inaccurate due to failures to require sufficient identifying information.
The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership, filed the lawsuit against North Carolina and its Board of Elections.
The DOJ accused the state of violating the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) by using a voter registration form that omits crucial identifying numbers such as a driver’s license or Social Security number.
Without these, the state should have assigned unique numbers, which it allegedly did not do.
This failure could affect the eligibility of numerous voters ahead of upcoming elections. The DOJ demands a swift 30-day correction period for contacting voters with missing details or removing them from the rolls.
This urgency underscores the lawsuit’s significance, especially after Republican Jefferson Griffin’s narrow loss to Democrat Allison Riggs in a North Carolina Supreme Court race.
Meanwhile, the DOJ lawsuit does not aim to reverse election results but seeks to ensure fair processes in future elections.
Despite the state’s acknowledgment of HAVA compliance issues, officials attribute errors to data entry mishaps.
While some corrective actions have been taken, the DOJ insists on implementing robust measures to prevent future discrepancies.
This lawsuit coincides with a state-level legal skirmish over the control of the state elections board.
Republicans’ push to shift control from the Democrat governor to a Republican state auditor adds to the situation’s complexity.
“Accurate voter registration rolls are critical to ensure that elections in North Carolina are conducted fairly, accurately and without fraud,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.
“The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that maintain inaccurate voter registration rolls in violation of federal voting laws,” she added.
This lawsuit is not the first HAVA-related action against North Carolina. Past complaints were dismissed, despite evidence suggesting failures to collect vital voter information.
A previous Democrat-majority board admitted to the issue but did not act swiftly enough for the 2024 elections.
Meanwhile, federal judges have previously declined to order voter roll changes before general elections, reinforcing the local appeals courts’ decisions to maintain challenged ballots in the tally.
This lawsuit could mark a turning point in establishing stricter controls on voter registration processes.
As the Trump administration escalates its efforts to secure election processes, North Carolina faces an opportunity to rectify its voter registration shortcomings.
The DOJ’s firm stance on this matter signals a broader national push to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
