More NC absentee ballots rejected under new mail-in voting rules

North Carolina is experiencing an increase in rejected absentee ballots compared to the last midterm election, according to preliminary data from the State Board of Elections reported by WRAL and CBS17. The rejection rate in 2026 stands at about 3.1%, up from 2.6% at a similar point in 2022, the data shows.

The stricter mail-in voting rules implemented by the State Board of Elections, which a federal judge recently allowed to stay in place, are believed to contribute to the rise in spoiled ballots, though officials cannot specify how many rejections are directly linked to these new regulations, CBS17 reported.

Voters whose mail-in ballots are rejected still have the opportunity to correct errors and have their votes counted, state election officials emphasized to WRAL. Common reasons for ballot rejection include mistakes on the ballot itself or errors in the absentee voting process.

Analysis by advocacy groups such as the Southern Coalition of Social Justice and Common Cause North Carolina aligns with the State Board's findings, showing an average rejection rate near 3% in preliminary results from about 27 counties, WRAL noted.

The U.S. Election Assistance Administration reported a final rejection rate of 2.2% for mail-in ballots in North Carolina after the 2022 election, indicating the current increase is notable but still in early stages of data collection.