Raleigh, North Carolina – A legal battle over voter registration practices in North Carolina has concluded with a settlement allowing approximately 73,000 voters to remain on the state’s rolls, despite lacking complete identification information. The agreement, reached on , between the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Republican and Democratic parties, resolves a lawsuit filed in 2024 by the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina GOP.
The original lawsuit alleged that roughly 250,000 voters had been improperly registered, as they had not provided the last four digits of their Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or an attestation confirming they possessed neither. Republicans sought the removal of these voters from the rolls and the invalidation of their ballots cast in the elections. The number of voters in question had decreased to approximately 73,000 by .
Under the terms of the settlement, these 73,000 voters will be permitted to stay on the voter rolls, with an opportunity to update their registration information when they next cast a ballot. North Carolina law requires voters to present identification when voting, but the settlement provides a pathway for those with incomplete records to comply with the requirement during the voting process.
The Democratic National Committee hailed the agreement as a victory against what they characterized as Republican efforts at voter suppression. DNC chair Ken Martin stated that the settlement was “a win for Americans and yet another blow to the Republicans’ scheme to disenfranchise voters ahead of the midterm elections.”
The settlement arrives as a broader national debate over voter identification and eligibility intensifies. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a bill that would mandate proof of citizenship for all voters. The bill is expected to face significant opposition in the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowing to block its passage. Schumer characterized the bill as akin to “Jim Crow 2.0,” arguing that it would disproportionately disenfranchise poorer individuals and people of color.
According to Schumer, approximately 20 million legitimate voters could be affected by the proposed legislation, potentially losing their right to vote due to difficulties in obtaining the required identification. Polling data from Pew Research Center indicates that while a majority of Americans (83%) support some form of voter identification, a significant portion of Democratic voters (71%) also believe in the importance of presenting identification to vote.
The SAVE Act also proposes establishing a system for sharing voter roll information between state election officials and federal authorities, and would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to pursue immigration cases involving non-citizens found to be registered to vote. Democrats have criticized these provisions as potentially discriminatory and intrusive.
The debate over voter ID requirements reflects a long-standing tension between efforts to ensure election integrity and concerns about voter access. Republicans argue that stricter ID laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud and maintain public confidence in the electoral process. Democrats contend that such laws disproportionately burden marginalized communities and suppress voter turnout.
The RNC has also recently launched an official TikTok account, following a strategy employed by President Donald Trump, who credited the platform with contributing to his victory in the election. The move signals a broader effort by the Republican party to engage with younger voters on social media platforms. Trump reportedly amassed roughly 3 million followers on TikTok within 24 hours of joining the platform, and garnered tens of millions of views on his content.
Meanwhile, Michael Whatley, the current chair of the RNC, is preparing to run for a Senate seat in North Carolina with the support of former President Trump. This follows a decision by Lara Trump, Trump’s daughter-in-law, to remain at Fox News rather than pursue the Senate candidacy. Whatley’s entry into the race is expected to create a competitive contest against former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat.
