Thousands of North Carolina Ballots Set to Be Rejected

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Thousands of North Carolina midterm ballots are set to be rejected over minor technical issues after a federal court upheld strict new Republican-backed rules for mail voters, according to data shared exclusively with Democracy Docket. Some Democratic strongholds are seeing rejection rates as high as 7-8%, the data show.

Posted by qcp at 07:33 PM | 39 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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BREAKING: Thousands of North Carolina midterm ballots are set to be rejected over minor technical issues after a federal court upheld strict new Republican-backed rules for mail voters, according to data shared exclusively with Democracy Docket. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/ ...

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-- Marc Elias (@marcelias.bsky.social) 5:52 PM Â· Oct 20, 2026

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More: A federal judge ruled late Monday to uphold North Carolina's strict GOP-championed absentee ballot rules on the eve of the state's mail ballot request deadline.

Gov. Josh Stein (D) warned about the high rejection rate in a Tuesday evening social media post.

"The State Board of Elections' last-minute changes to voting by mail are leading to thousands more absentee ballots being rejected this election " at a rejection rate twice as high as in 2022," Stein wrote. "It's infuriating. North Carolinians, please make a plan to vote this year, in person if possible. And if you're voting by mail, make sure you seal both envelopes on your ballot. Don't let them take away your vote."

Common Cause North Carolina, working with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, compiled data from 27 of the state's 100 counties, using absentee review monitors " everyday voters and volunteer advocates " as well as attorneys.

The data reveals ballots are so far being rejected at a rate of around 3% in the wake of the new GOP-backed rules.

Some of those rejections were likely not down to the new rules " ballots can be rejected for numerous reasons. But the 3% total rejection rate is double the rejection rate the state saw in its 2022 election, strongly suggesting that the new rules are having a major impact.

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2026-10-21 09:58 AM | Reply

The GOP needs to cheat because they have offered not one policy that helps Americans in their lives.

#2 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-10-21 10:24 AM | Reply

The GOP needs to cheat because they know the ass reaming they have planned for the citizenry after the midterms guarantees they'll never win again.

So they'll consolidate power now to ensure they don't have to win in a fair election ever again.

#3 | Posted by jpw at 2026-10-21 12:57 PM | Reply

Stop worrying about NC. You aren't changing it blue.

#4 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-10-21 08:04 PM | Reply

"Stop worrying about NC. You aren't changing it blue."

Don't look now, but Republicans have gone dark in North Carolina. They've given up on the race for Senator, which (of course) is a statewide office ... that will go blue.

#5 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-10-21 08:28 PM | Reply

Stop worrying about NC. You aren't changing it blue.

#4 | Posted by subliberal

Hey dumbf*&^, it's already very purple.

Even on a topic you should be well informed on you're a f*&^ing moron with a child's understanding.

#6 | Posted by jpw at 2026-10-22 03:41 AM | Reply

They've given up on the race for Senator, which (of course) is a statewide office ... that will go blue.

I must admit, Whatley is an idiot. Something about him I just didnt like. I wasnt going to vote for him anyways.

Cooper is trying to come across as a conservative Democrat because he knows the voting people of NC are right leaning at heart outside of the cities.

Right leaning, conservative Democrats could win in NC all day long. And probably get my vote.

#7 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-10-22 08:14 AM | Reply

-Right leaning, conservative Democrats could win in NC all day long.

They have to fight off the label of "too extreme liberal". The democrat running in Kansas is specifically saying "I don't support this or that" referring to most liberal policies.

And he's got a decent shot of winning.

#8 | Posted by eberly at 2026-10-22 08:37 AM | Reply

Take a victory lap, Boaz!

#9 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-22 08:33 PM | Reply

"Right leaning, conservative Democrats"

LMFAO.

You don't believe such a creature exists.

Prove me wrong and name one.

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-22 08:33 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

This is actual election interference

#11 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-10-22 08:38 PM | Reply

Don't you worry.

Republicans will win the midterms and we can wait around another two years to do this all over again.

Because democrats won't do anything about it.

Ever.

#12 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-10-22 08:42 PM | Reply

Based on reading stuff on Twitter & threads. Voting machines are malfunctioning and voter obstruction is at an all time high.

#13 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-10-22 09:00 PM | Reply

Will Americans stand for their votes being stolen from them?

#14 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-10-22 09:01 PM | Reply

North Carolina A&T and UNC Greensboro lack student-accessible early-voting sites
While both schools have historically had on-campus early-voting locations for presidential elections, they are the only two UNC System schools that do not have sites for the midterm elections.

---- magat scum

#15 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-10-22 09:02 PM | Reply

Will Americans stand for their votes being stolen from them?

Democrats will.

I don't see democrats storming the capitol building.

Besides. Trump is ready for that and his whole administration is living in military housing.

America is done. Eventually even Eberly will see it.

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-10-22 09:07 PM | Reply

"North Carolina A&T and UNC Greensboro lack student-accessible early-voting sites"

There was a cool video on Facebook with students from some HBCU "marching" to the polls a mile away to vote. Not really a march, exactly. More like just walking there. Shockingly, nobody tried to Heather Heyer them.

"Oh no, I had to walk a mile so now I can't vote because I'm Danforth's grandma, democracy is at risk!"
--Eberly (but not out loud)

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-22 09:54 PM | Reply

@#14 ... Will Americans stand for their votes being stolen from them? ...

That seems to depend upon who is stating the definition of "Americans."

There does appear to be a very significant force used by those currently in power who appear to be actively endeavoring to reducing the voting power of those Americans who typically do not vote in their favor.

#18 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-10-22 10:15 PM | Reply

The march was about a 45 minute walk both ways.

www.npr.org

www.facebook.com

#19 | Posted by qcp at 2026-10-23 06:50 AM | Reply

"Right leaning, conservative Democrats"

LMFAO.

You don't believe such a creature exists.

Prove me wrong and name one.

#10 | Posted by snoofy

It used to be Biden.

#20 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-10-23 07:59 AM | Reply

#17,

Stuff like that is getting performative here and stupid. It's known this area is not a walkable place. You HAVE to have a car.

Normal blacks are looking at that like it's stupid. And it is.

No one is stopping blacks rights to vote.

No one.

#21 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-10-23 08:01 AM | Reply

It used to be Biden.
#20 | Posted by subliberal

You hated Biden.
Almost as much as you hated Obama.
Or was it more? There's really no limits to your hate.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-23 10:51 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

A large number of ballots have already been rejected. Unsealed envelopes etc....

#23 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-10-23 11:02 AM | Reply

No one is stopping blacks rights to vote.

No one.

#21 | POSTED BY SUBLIBERAL

Tennessee is on line 1 for you.

One in five Black residents of Tennessee are prohibited by state law from voting. In combination with numerous other election barriers, advocates say, people of color have been broadly disenfranchised by white lawmakers maintaining their grip on power in the state.

#24 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 11:33 AM | Reply

#24,

Now give some context to that comment and say why those people are barred from voting.

#25 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-10-23 11:59 AM | Reply

Re 25

Nope. I don't work for you.

Tennessee has a clearly documented history of constitutional and legislative measures that has restricted Black voting and political participation.

If you are truly interested in the truth then Google it yourself you hateful freak.

#26 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 12:09 PM | Reply

Re 25
Nope. I don't work for you.

IOW, you're a dishonest ----.

#27 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-10-23 12:11 PM | Reply

IOW, you're a dishonest ----.

#27 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

Coming from a "dishonest ----" that doesn't really mean much.

The statement was:

No one is stopping blacks rights to vote.

No one.

I showed that is not true. And Tennessee is obviously not the only southern state guilty of a history of voter and political suppression of blacks and minorities.

It's not me being dishonest here.

#28 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 12:17 PM | Reply

Normal blacks are looking at that like it's stupid. And it is.
No one is stopping blacks rights to vote.
No one.

#21 | Posted by subliberal

Go step in front of a bus you worthless piece of s*&^.

#29 | Posted by jpw at 2026-10-23 12:18 PM | Reply

" Now give some context to that comment and say why those people are barred from voting."

Because they look like you, and not me.

It took me 7 minutes to vote last time, and it would've been 4 minutes if the ballots weren't so long.

4 minutes for me, 4 hours for you. By design.

You'd have to be a moron not to see the difference.

#30 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-10-23 12:32 PM | Reply

Re 30

One example of many examples that subliterate and leftyturds will just deny is a purposeful suppression of minority votes.

#31 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 12:39 PM | Reply

Normal blacks
#21 | Posted by subliberal

Give us some examples from social media of these "normal blacks" who think this is a good thing.

#32 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-10-23 12:55 PM | Reply

It's not me being dishonest here.

#28 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 12:17 PM | Reply | Flag:

What blacks are being prevented from voting? And why.

#33 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-10-23 01:33 PM | Reply

" What blacks are being prevented from voting? And why."

Even you know why.

The same reason it takes folks who look like me 4 minutes, and folks who look like Boaz 4 hours. It's by design.

If you have an alternate theory, I'm all ears. Feel free to explain the chasm.

#34 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-10-23 01:38 PM | Reply

What blacks are being prevented from voting? And why.

#33 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

The statement was:

No one is stopping blacks rights to vote.
No one.

Blanket statements like these are easy to refute. I only need one example. And there are many.

The easiest low hanging fruit is Tennessee and their draconian rules for felons to regain their voting rights after completing their debts to society. Not to mention Tennessee lawmakers made a deliberate choice to silence Black voters by dismantling a district that has long ensured representation for one of the state's largest Black populations.

Many Southern states have attempted to suppress black voters ever since the 15th Amendment gave African-American men the right to vote.

#35 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 01:50 PM | Reply

I am not sure why I should bother to even answer leftyturds or Visitard with reasonable answers any more.

I should just be just replying to these creepers "Are you stupid? Who do you work for?"

And leave it at that.

#36 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-10-23 02:01 PM | Reply

How dare they follow the rules. Are we ok with loose adherence to environmental regulations too?

#37 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-10-23 02:37 PM | Reply

Hey Visitor,

You going to denounce the KKK?

You haven't yet.

#38 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-10-23 02:38 PM | Reply

Have you renounced your membership in NAMBLA?

#39 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-10-23 04:48 PM | Reply