This County Board of Elections (CBOE) Monitor Report is based on the review and analysis of first-hand reports prepared by non-partisan election advocates during the 2024 General Election. Democracy North Carolina, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Disability Rights NC, and Common Cause North Carolina deployed advocates in 81 counties to attend and observe pre-canvass and canvass (i.e. the process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly) activities at CBOE meetings during early voting and in the days between Election Day and certification. Non-partisan volunteer attorneys and law students were also present to provide guidance to election officials throughout the canvass period and to observe election recounts and protests that followed the county canvass.
This Report offers valuable insights for partners, advocates, and election officials seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of election administration in North Carolina, particularly in the context of the uniquely challenging 2024 General Election and the ongoing changes to election law. By highlighting local variations, documenting recent changes, and sharing observations, this Report provides a groundlevel view into how elections are managed across the state, helping to promote uniform, consistent, and voter-friendly practices.
Election administrators across North Carolina faced unique internal and external challenges in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election. Even before the start of the election season, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (“State Board of Elections”) predicted that 27 County Board of Elections Directors would be serving in their first presidential election. High turnover among election administrators from retirement, increased work demands, and low pay also proved to be a strain on election workers. Despite this, and in the face of numerous external challenges, County Boards of Elections worked diligently to serve the 5.8 million voters who turned out to vote across the state.
Several external factors made the 2024 General Election stand out. For example, voters faced an abbreviated window both for receiving and returning mail ballots in this election because of political maneuvering by a third-party candidate and the implementation of a new election law passed the prior year. Specifically, on August 28, 2024, the We the People party sought to remove their candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from the General Election ballot. They made this request after 2 million mail ballots had already been printed and a little more than a week before the September 6th statelaw deadline to begin mailing requested ballots to voters. Following a court order, CBOEs were forced to print new ballots without Kennedy’s name listed, resulting in additional printing costs for the counties and a delay of about two weeks in mailing ballots to voters. The 2024 General Election was also the first major election following the passage of Senate Bill 747 in 2023, which shortened the timeline for mail ballots to be received from three days after Election Day to Election Day itself, thereby reducing the time absentee voters had both to receive and return their ballots.
In late September, another unexpected challenge arose. Hurricane Helene severely impacted more than 25 counties in Western North Carolina. In response, the State Board of Elections and later the NC General Assembly approved measures to support affected counties by allowing flexibility in modifying early voting plans and Election Day sites, allowing out-of-county poll worker recruitment, and expanding the methods by which mail-in voters could request and return their ballots.
Lastly, groups seeking to sow doubt about the accuracy of election results filed a wave of last-minute lawsuits shortly before the election. These lawsuits challenged the eligibility of certain voters and other election rules and procedures. Among them was a challenge to the State Board of Elections’ approval of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s digital One Card for voter photo identification, which was the only form of identification provided to UNC students and employees. Nevertheless, the North Carolina Court of Appeals blocked the use of these IDs just weeks before Election Day, causing a last-minute scramble for those voters who were left without any other form of approved voter photo ID.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY & KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
The 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 North Carolina, Common Cause North Carolina, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, League of Women Voters NC and Blueprint NC, the Report draws from first-hand observations of pre-canvass and canvass activities in 81 counties.
Despite widespread challenges, including leadership turnover in 27 counties, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, shortened mail ballot return timelines under Senate Bill 747, and last-minute legal disruptions, North Carolina’s County Boards worked diligently to serve 5.8 million voters. The Report commends the professionalism of election staff and volunteers, while also highlighting persistent and systemic issues that jeopardize equitable ballot access.
Key Challenges Included:
- Voter Photo ID Implementation — Though implementation improved from 2023, confusion persisted among poll workers, especially regarding ID Exception Forms. Roughly 74% of voters who cast provisional ballots due to not providing a photo ID failed to return with proper documentation and were ultimately disenfranchised.
- 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, especially among students, military personnel, and voters displaced by Hurricane Helene.
- Previously Removed Voters — Overly aggressive list maintenance led to ballots rejected improperly. In some counties, every provisional ballot from a “previously removed” voter was rejected, suggesting inconsistent application of state law.
- 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. ID submission issues and natural disaster displacement further complicated mail voting.
- 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. Upcoming changes under SB 382 threaten to compress the canvass timeline from 10 to two and a half days, further jeopardizing election integrity and accuracy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
By documenting the work and challenges faced by North Carolina’s County Boards of Elections during the 2024 General Election, this Report affirms the vital role of election monitors and the urgent need for policy reforms that strengthen, not undermine, voter access and public confidence in North Carolina’s democracy. To ensure accessible, transparent, and consistent elections, the report recommends the following practices and policy changes be implemented.
Voter Photo ID
- Improve and increase training for County Boards and poll workers that voter ID Exception Forms must be offered to every voter who does not present photo ID.
- Continue state-wide public education campaigns to dispel common misconceptions and explain options for voting without photo ID.
Provisional Voting
- Provide County Boards with additional training and guidance on legal requirements when processing provisional ballots from “previously removed” voters.
- Require polling sites near county lines to have signage clearly indicating jurisdiction to prevent misdirected voters.
Voter Registration
- Expand same-day registration to include Election Day. Alternatively, increase voter education about when same-day registration is – and is not – available.
- Adopt automatic voter registration and enhanced DMV data syncing to further ensure accurate voter rolls and reduce “no record of registration” rejections and data transfer failures.
Voting by Mail
- Provide more assistance and outreach to mail voters to ensure they are able to meet the Election Day deadline and comply with voter ID requirements.
- Restore the three-day grace period for postmarked mail ballots to accommodate postal delays and ensure voters are not marginalized through no fault of their own.
Election Funding and Staff Capacity
- Extend the compressed canvass timeline limits in Senate Bill 382 for processing provisional ballots, addressing issues with ballots that can be fixed, and providing staff with sufficient time to research ballots and contact voters.
- Provide stipends and overtime pay to County Board staff to cover the extensive hours worked during canvass periods and post-election audits.