Elections director marks first year as state pushes technology and voter record updates
North Carolina’s top elections administrator is marking his first year in office by pointing to technology modernization, voter registration updates and campaign finance system work ahead of the 2026 general election.
State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes was appointed to the role May 15, 2025. In a May 13 release, the agency said Hayes’ first year included work on the State Election Information Management System, campaign finance reporting software, the Registration Repair Project and internal agency reorganization.
The State Election Information Management System, known as SEIMS, is the state’s election data system. The board said modernization work is underway and is intended to improve functionality and security while the state prepares for a full replacement of the system.
In February, Hayes announced ReFrame Solutions had been selected for a $4.66 million contract to modernize SEIMS. The full replacement of the system will be handled through a separate competitive bidding process, with vendor selection and project scope expected later this year.
The agency said the full SEIMS replacement would be the largest overhaul of election data management in state history. The bipartisan 22-member Modernization of Election Data Systems Commission, created by State Auditor Dave Boliek, is meeting regularly to make recommendations on the work.
The State Board also said it is updating North Carolina’s campaign finance software, which was built in the early 2000s and is used to store legally required campaign disclosures and make them available to the public.
Another major initiative is the Registration Repair Project, launched July 17, 2025, to collect missing identifying information from registered voters. The board said letters were sent in mid-August to about 82,000 voters missing required ID data and that about 37% of those records have been repaired. The agency said no voters were removed from the rolls through the project.
The State Board also said it reached a Sept. 9, 2025, settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in United States of America v. North Carolina State Board of Elections. The agency said the agreement recognizes the Registration Repair Project as North Carolina’s method for complying with voter registration laws while limiting inconvenience to voters.
Hayes said the agency has made progress but has more work ahead with the general election approaching.
The modernization push comes as election administration remains under close public scrutiny. Technology systems, voter registration maintenance, campaign finance access and county election operations all shape how voters, candidates and political parties experience the election process.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
