MORRISVILLE, NC (November 18, 2025) – A year after the historic 2024 General Election, election protection advocacy groups are reflecting on the widespread challenges faced by voters and election officials alike, including the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, shortened mail ballot return timelines under Senate Bill 747, and last-minute legal disruptions.
The newly released 2024 County Board of Elections (CBOE) Monitoring Report presents a comprehensive, on-the-ground analysis of North Carolina’s election administration during the 2024 General Election.
Led by Democracy NC, Blueprint NC, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Common Cause North Carolina, League of Women Voters of NC, and supported by other partner groups, the report draws from first-hand observations of pre-canvass and canvass (i.e. the process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly) activities in 81 counties. It lifts up the professionalism of election staff and volunteers, while also highlighting persistent and systemic issues that continue to jeopardize equitable ballot access. Even before the start of the election season, the North Carolina State Board of Elections predicted that 27 County Board of Elections Directors would be serving in their first presidential election. Despite this, and in the face of numerous external challenges, the report notes that the County Boards of Elections worked diligently to serve the 5.8 million voters who turned out to vote across the state.
It is also clear from both 2024 and preliminary 2025 data that voters are increasingly determined to cast their ballots despite persistent barriers, making both the takeaways and recommendations from this report all the more significant as North Carolina heads into the 2026 Midterms. Overall, voters turned out in droves for the 2024 Election, with nearly 6 million North Carolinians successfully casting their ballots and having them counted. (See more of the data breakdown for the 2024 General Election here.) This fall, voters once again turned out in increased numbers for the municipal elections in counties across the state, with preliminary numbers showing turnout at a rate of 19.75% (3.5 million) for the Nov. 4 election, compared to 15.9% turnout for the November midterms in 2023.
Noteworthy observations gathered through canvass reports, the non-partisan voter hotline (888-OUR-VOTE), and provisional voter phone banking outreach include:
- Voter Photo ID Implementation: Though implementation improved from 2023, confusion persisted among poll workers, especially regarding ID Exception Forms.
- Provisional Balloting & Registration: Over 65,000 provisional ballots were cast, a sharp increase from 2020. Most were rejected due to “No Record of Registration,” often reflecting DMV data failures or misunderstandings of residency rules.
- Previously Removed Voters: Overly aggressive list maintenance led to ballots rejected improperly.
- Voting by Mail: The repeal of a three-day grace period caused about 2,708 ballots to be rejected solely for arriving after Election Day, when they would have been counted in prior cycles as long as they were postmarked on time.
- Voter Challenges & Protests: The extended deadline for mail ballot challenges under SB 747 undermined due process, allowing challenges just two days before Canvass. Post-election protests, largely politically motivated, failed to produce credible evidence of voting irregularities or violations and were overwhelmingly dismissed.
- Staffing & Funding Constraints: With no additional funding despite new administrative burdens, County Board staff endured long hours under tight deadlines.
”This report makes clear the ongoing importance of election monitors and support for our state’s County Board of Elections, and the need for policies that strengthen – not undermine – voter access and confidence in our elections,” said Adrienne Kelly, Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina. “Our organizations wish to work with our county and state board of elections alike to ensure that our elections are accessible and transparent. That means supporting policies and plans that improve training for our board and poll workers on areas such as voter ID and provisional ballots, expanding NOT contracting same-day registration, providing outreach to voters who are casting their ballot by mail, and holding lawmakers accountable when it comes to ensuring free access to the ballot box for All North Carolinians.”
“This report highlights the massive amount of work that goes on after an election, from county boards and monitors alike,” said Adrianne Spoto, Counsel for Voting Rights at SCSJ. “With the legislature now having shortened the time county boards have to complete that work for future elections, it will be all the more important to have monitors on the ground in 2026 to make sure that everyone’s vote is properly counted.”
“Monitoring county board of elections meetings is an important way to support our elections and build public confidence in outcomes,” said Jennifer Rubin, President of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina. “The League prioritizes efforts to ensure that voting procedures and county board decision-making are transparent and fair. ”
“As we’ve seen with strong turnout in recent elections, North Carolinians across the state want to exercise their freedom to vote,” said Tyler Daye, Policy and Civic Engagement Manager with Common Cause North Carolina. “This report illustrates the critical role County Boards of Elections play in ensuring eligible voters get their ballots counted. It’s crucial that state lawmakers and county officials work in a bipartisan way to ensure our elections system is properly funded, adequately staffed, and fully prepared to meet the high rates of voter participation we expect to see in 2026 and beyond.”
“This report is the result of first-hand observations from dedicated advocates who monitored pre-canvass and canvass activities covering over 80 counties in North Carolina,” said Dr. Serena Sebring, Executive Director of Blueprint North Carolina. “Our partners’ collective work shows that the North Carolina Legislature and Boards of Elections across the state need to implement better policies and practices that support voters and ensure that votes are properly counted. We are grateful to the election workers who share this vision of creating an inclusive democracy.”
Read the full CBOE monitoring report at demnc.co/cboereport. To learn more about Democracy NC’s elections advocacy program, visit demnc.co/electionsadvocacy.
Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase civic participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and remove systemic barriers to voting and serving in elected office. democracync.org
Blueprint NC is a progressive ecosystem of over 100 formal partner 501(c)(3) organizations and an expanding web of network allies committed to building people power for an anti-racist, inclusive democracy. www.blueprintnc.org
Common Cause North Carolina is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. www.commoncause.org/north-carolina/
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina, Inc. works to encourage the active and informed participation of citizens in government and to increase understanding of major public policy issues. my.lwv.org/north-carolina-state
Southern Coalition for Social Justice partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. southerncoalition.org