State elections board opens public comment on absentee voting, photo ID, recount and voting site rules
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina State Board of Elections is taking public comments on proposed rules covering absentee voting, voter photo ID, recounts and voting sites.
The comment period began Friday, May 15, and runs through Tuesday, July 14, according to the State Board. Written comments may be submitted during the comment period, and separate in-person public hearings are scheduled for each set of rules.
“The State Board of Elections invites members of the public to comment on four sets of proposed administrative rules on absentee voting, the photo ID requirement, recounts, and voting sites,” the agency said in its announcement.
The proposed absentee voting rules are scheduled for a public hearing at 10 a.m. June 22 at the State Board office in Raleigh.
The proposed photo ID rules are scheduled for a 2 p.m. hearing June 9. The recount rules are scheduled for a 10 a.m. hearing June 8. The voting site rules are scheduled for a 10 a.m. hearing June 29. All hearings are scheduled for the Board Room at the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St. in Raleigh.
The rules are likely to draw attention from county election officials, voting rights groups, political parties, campaigns and attorneys because they involve procedures that can shape how voters cast ballots and how close elections are reviewed.
The four rule packages cover some of the most contested areas of election administration in North Carolina. Absentee voting rules affect mail voting procedures. Photo ID rules affect voter identification requirements. Recount rules can determine how close elections are handled after Election Day. Voting site rules can affect where and how voters cast ballots.
After the comment period closes, the State Board will review public comments and consider revisions before taking final action. Adopted rules must then be submitted to the Rules Review Commission before they become effective.
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.
