Judge Rules North Carolina Counties Must Restore Voters Removed From Rolls

A federal judge has ordered local elections boards in North Carolina to restore voters to the rolls after their registrations were canceled. The ruling comes as early voting is ending in the Tar Heel state.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs issued the decision Friday after an emergency hearing earlier in the week. In her ruling, she says the state's conduct likely violated the change of residence provisions of the National Voter Registration Act, in that it systematically removed the names of eligible voters.

The law prohibits boards of election from clearing voter names from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election.

The NAACP alleged that at least three counties purged voter rolls through a process disproportionately targeting black residents. Up to 4,500 voters were removed after private citizens challenged their registrations. The challenges were filed in Cumberland, Moore and Beaufort counties.

The individuals sent mail to home addresses. Returned mail gave county officials enough evidence to void the registrations.

Biggs had said in court that she was “horrified” by the number of removals in Cumberland County, which accounted for the majority of the statewide total.

Early voting ends Saturday in the critical swing state, which the NAACP has previously sued over other voter access issues.

The general election will be held on November 8th.

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