Action Alert: Absentee Voting: Non-Curable Deficiencies

• Please rephrase the Rationale and Justification for the Non-Curable Deficiencies rule so the NCSBE treats each submission separately.

• Then click on the Public Comment Portal at the bottom of the page to submit your Comment.

• Email Jane.bilello@gmail.com with the Rule and comment you submitted so we can keep track of submissions. Thanks.

Proposed rule 08 NCAC 18 .0503: Non-Curable Deficiencies – This rule identifies deficiencies that cannot be cured and will result in the ballot being cancelled and reissued, if there is enough time to do so.

Rationale: 

Clarify in this rule that the voter whose absentee ballot was properly requested and whose ballot was returned, enclosed in a sealed ballot envelope in the absentee ballot return package can be accepted, even if there are other (unacceptable) ballots in the absentee ballot return package.  Add another non-curable deficiency addressing a non-match of a personal identification number (DL# or Last four of SSN) between the voter’s application and that voter’s voter registration record.   

Justification: 

1.            These proposed changes better address situations where multiple ballots sometimes are inappropriately returned in a single absentee ballot return package. 

2.            Voting absentee by mail is the least observed and secure method for voting.  Special safeguards are needed to ensure legitimacy of the absentee ballot return package.  Instructions are needed to address mis-matches of the personal identification number (PIN) - either the DL# or the SSN-4 - for the voter.  PIN Mismatches should be non-curable and result in the ballot being spoiled (and re-issued if appropriate).  

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After you have rephrased the Rationale and Justification:

• Click on  Public Comment Portal: https://www.ncsbe.gov/public-comment-portal-2026-rulemaking-absentee-voting

• Scroll down to the form, Record Your Public Comment.

• Fill in the form with the Rule, Your Name, Your Email, and Comment. 

We are trying to keep track of numbers of folks who commented. Please, when you complete your public comment, email Jane at jane.bilello@gmail.com with the rule(s) you submitted for Public Comment. Thank you.