Invalid Absentee Ballot Request Forms Sent To 80,000 Voters

A voter advocacy group mailed invalid absentee ballot request forms to about 80,000 North Carolinians. 

State Board of Elections officials say the ballot request forms were sent with the voter's information already filled out.

A state law passed last year prohibits election officials from accepting ballot request forms that have been filled out "partially or in whole."

The advocacy group, The Center For Voter Information (CVI), is based in Washington, D.C. The organization has halted any additional mailings with pre-filled voter information. 

According to a news release, the State Board has instructed county officials not to process the requests. Letters will be sent to voters informing them of the issue, along with blank request forms.

CVI had asked the State Board to review a sample mailing in April, but staffers did not notice the pre-filled forms at that time.

Election officials discovered the issue after the forms were already sent to voters.

CVI issued a statement saying believed that it was complying with the new law, and had received written assurances from the state regarding its mailing.