State Board of Elections

The state Board of Elections voted along party lines to reject including Sunday hours in early voting plans for most counties. Republicans on county boards argued that Sunday should be reserved for church and family, stating it was not worth opening polling sites because too few people vote that day. This pattern saw the majority of the 20 considered local plans adopted along party lines with Republicans holding the majority.

Charlotte businessman Michael Estramonte secured $35.2 million in state funding for the Katie Blessing Center, a pediatric mental health facility, amid allegations that he and his associates contributed nearly $1 million to political campaigns of lawmakers who supported the project. A campaign finance watchdog filed a complaint alleging potential violations in donor records, which Estramonte denies.

The North Carolina Senate Elections Committee advanced two election law bills, with House Bill 834 extending ballot curing periods and adjusting voter ID rules, while House Bill 958, a controversial measure, was significantly scaled down after protests. The bills include provisions for challenging election decisions in multiple courts and vetting voter rolls against federal databases.

Voting rights groups in North Carolina, including Forward Justice and the NC NAACP, are intensifying voter protection efforts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections amid Senate Republicans' consideration of House Bill 958, which critics argue hinders voter access. The bill, passed by the House with only Republican votes, faces opposition for potentially disenfranchising voters, while the state Board of Elections has adopted rules that could make it easier to reject ballots.

State Senator L. Louise Lucas used $300,000 from her campaign funds to cover legal defense costs after an FBI-related incident involving a raid on her office and personal business in May. A filing on the State Board of Elections website confirmed the use of campaign funds for this purpose.

North Carolina Auditor Dave Boliek has used his authority to appoint GOP members to county elections boards, leading to proposals that could allow a 3-2 majority to reject votes based on legal voter ID exception forms. His actions have also influenced changes to early voting options, such as eliminating Sunday voting and specific locations in Pasquotank County.

Anson County elections director Neva Helms resigned after calling 911 during a meeting with candidate Kevin Adams and officials, citing discomfort. Helms claimed in her resignation letter to face issues like reduced pay, exclusion from communications, and safety concerns. The state board of elections is investigating her claims and the circumstances around Adams' candidacy challenges.

The Guilford County Board of Elections approved an early voting plan for 2026 that excludes polling sites at NC A&T State University and UNC Greensboro, despite student advocacy. The 4-1 vote retained 13 of 2022's 15 sites, moved two, and added two new ones. The State Board of Elections will review the non-unanimous decision.

The North Carolina House passed House Bill 958, an elections bill criticized by Democrats for enabling ballot challenges, audits, and voter registration removals. The bill cleared the House in a party-line 66-47 vote and will now move to the Senate. Key provisions include granting the Republican auditor authority to conduct post-election audits and allowing the Board of Elections to hire private attorneys.

Maryland Democrats are holding primaries to select U.S. House nominees, including a race to replace retiring Rep. Steny Hoyer. Candidates include Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol during the 2021 riot, and Adrian Boafo, a former Hoyer field director. The primaries also feature a competitive gubernatorial race and a ballot error incident involving mail-in ballots.

Montgomery County elections board members address concerns about mail-in ballot errors and reassure voters that no ballot will be counted twice. Replacement ballots with unique bar codes are being used to track and prevent duplicate counts, with early voting starting June 11 and Election Day on June 23.

North Carolina Democratic leaders Anderson Clayton and Robert Reives are demanding transparency after Jackson County GOP elections board members claimed they faced pressure and threats to oppose a campus early voting site at Western Carolina University. Republican board members Bill Thompson and Jay Pavey alleged they were instructed by Republicans in Raleigh to reject the site, with Pavey stating he was warned of removal if he did not comply. Despite the pressure, Pavey and another Republican supported the campus site, while Thompson opposed it.

A Republican member of the Jackson County Board of Elections, Jay Pavey, faced threats from his party to remove him if he supported a campus early voting site at Western Carolina University. Board Chairman Bill Thompson also reported pressure from the Republican Party to block the university site, citing concerns about neutrality. Despite opposition, Pavey voted for the WCU site, stating he may face consequences for defying party directives.

The North Carolina Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit challenging partisan gerrymandering in the state's 2023 legislative districts, ruling the claims raised non-justiciable political questions. The plaintiffs, represented by Bob Orr, argued the state constitution implies a right to fair elections, but the court stated unenumerated rights cannot invalidate the General Assembly's actions.

A Maryland primary ballot mix-up has renewed Republican calls for a federal review of the state's voter rolls, with the Maryland Freedom Caucus demanding an audit after some voters received the wrong party's ballot. The mistake affects around 400,000 primary voters who requested mail-in ballots. The state is resending thousands of corrected ballots to address the issue.

A Maryland primary ballot mix-up has renewed Republican calls for a federal review of the state's voter rolls, with some 400,000 primary voters receiving the wrong party's ballot. The Maryland Freedom Caucus is demanding that state elections officials release Maryland's voter rolls to the federal government for an audit. The mistake undermines confidence in the June 23 primary.