NC alters mail-in ballot rules hours before distribution

The North Carolina State Board of Elections adopted revised guidelines for processing mail-in ballots on Friday, a decision made mere hours before the ballots were scheduled to be sent to registered voters.

The updated rules establish new standards for determining whether a mail-in ballot should be counted. Under the new guideline, election officials are required to disqualify a ballot if the signature on the envelope does not meet specific criteria.

The timing of the policy change has drawn attention, as it comes at the tail end of the distribution window for the current election cycle.