RNC sues North Carolina State Board of Elections to block non-citizen voting

by Dillon Burroughs

Photo: Alamy

The Republican National Committee (RNC) and North Carolina GOP sued the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) on Monday to stop non-citizens from voting.

The lawsuit marked the second time in the past week that the two conservative groups have sued the group.

“The NCSBE has once again failed in its mandate to keep non-citizens off the voter rolls, fueling distrust and jeopardizing our elections. We are committed to the basic principle – and commonsense law – that only Americans decide American elections,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement.

“Deliberately failing to follow the law, right before our country’s most important election, is inexcusable. We will fight every day to ensure that NCSBE follows the law, cleans the voter rolls, and protects the vote for North Carolinians,” he added.

According to the RNC’s statement, the NCSBE formerly used a voter registration form that failed to require appropriate identification information, such as a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security Number. 

The NCSBE eventually fixed the form. However, about 225,000 people registered without supplying the appropriate information.  

No remedial action has yet been taken to update the information for these registered individuals, leaving the door open to non-verified voters and non-citizens voting in the upcoming November elections.

NCGOP Chairman Jason Simmons also addressed the importance of verifying the voter information of the state’s citizens.

“This State Board continually has problems ensuring voter rolls only have verified citizens. This lawsuit will remedy their ongoing refusal to collect the required information from those who want to take part in North Carolina elections. Accountability and fidelity to following the rule of law is long overdue for the most partisan Elections Board in state history,” he wrote in the statement.

The latest legal action is in addition to a lawsuit last week against the NCSBE. The previous suit accused the election board of failing to check jury questionnaire responses to identify and remove non-citizens from the voter rolls. 

The legal moves follow the recent Supreme Court decision in favor of stricter voter requirements in Arizona.

President Donald Trump shared a statement following the ruling that stated that registered voters who do not provide proof of citizenship will be rejected.

“Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of election integrity! Voters in Arizona who register with the state and do not provide proof of citizenship will be rejected,” said Warren Peterson, Arizona Senate President.

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