Judge blocks tighter rule on same-day registraton in North Carolina elections

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked for now a new law approved by North Carolina lawmakers recently that tightens a rule on when a ballot cast by someone who is simultaneously registering to vote is removed from election counts.

The preliminary injunction from U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder tells elections workers they can’t nullify ballots by screening citizens who register and immediately vote during a 17-day period before a primary or general election through an altered method unless applicant protections are created.

Over 100,000 people have used such “same-day registration” in North Carolina during each of the last two presidential election years, so slight adjustments in the closely divided state could make a difference in this November’s elections for president, governor and other statewide positions. Early in-person voting — and thus same-day registration — for the March 5 primaries begins Feb. 15.

The new law, enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in the fall over Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto, in part would remove a registrant’s ballot from the count after one mailed notice to the person’s address by election officials is returned as undeliverable, instead of two under the previous law.

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