Last Monday, the Commission on the Future of NC Elections convened its second all-commission meeting at Catawba College to present findings on the safety and security of the North Carolina election system and make recommendations for improvements. The findings showed North Carolina elections are currently administered securely and professionally, with slight improvements recommended, a finding that is especially relevant at a moment where 29% of likely voters in North Carolina lack trust in the elections system.

“We know that we have a growing state, and election laws have changed, districts have changed, and the number of people voting has changed since 2020. This Commission is a way to increase public awareness about how things work in NC for both newcomers and long-time residents” said Bob Orr, co-Chair for the NC Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.

11 cross-partisan committees composed of scholars, business leaders and community members, each diligently examined a topic — from voter access and registration to ballot security and cyber security — to identify strengths and potential weaknesses of aspects of the electoral process. The more than 60 members of the Commission — which includes numerous people from Western North Carolina — represent the geographic, racial, age, ideological and gender diversity of the state, with individuals from various sectors, including the business, legal and academic communities. 

“I am grateful for the hard work of the various committees in researching the North Carolina election system, best practices and voter perceptions. This cross-partisan group showed that we have a lot of agreement on election security in North Carolina, although there are always areas for improvement,” noted Jennifer Roberts, co-Chair for the NC Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.

Additional findings from the Commissions included:

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Ballot integrity and vote counting is highly secured: North Carolina has a very strong ballot integrity process that the public should be made aware of. This includes paper backup for every single vote, a strict ballot machine certification process and laws against any electronic ballot marking device connecting to the internet. Public awareness initiatives have been suggested to increase public trust.

Increased need for resources and safety precautions for election workers: An increase in public spending on elections will increase participation. Public awareness of this issue could lead to responsive county and state budgets to better equip elections staff for their high volume of work, especially during election season. De-escalation training, public education, salary increases and increased security might be considered. 

Allegations of fraud are miniscule: The NC State board website shows all the cases of alleged fraud between the years of 2015 to 2022 found only 674, or 0.002% of all votes cast were alleged to be fraudulent. The site does not show whether the allegations were found to be true. Public awareness initiatives can highlight the negligible fraud in North Carolina elections and the redundant systems that catch fraud or human errors that occur.

• There is a need for improved voter access: Polling shows a need for better access across the board for groups of voters, including disabled voters, English as a second language citizens and college students, that limit their ability to exercise their right to vote. Improved guidelines that can be used consistently across counties can ensure accessibility across the state. 

• Information on ballots cast is publicly searchable, increasing transparency: The North Carolina election system tracks and records online whether a person has cast a ballot or not (though their ballot choices remain secret). Alerting the public to transparency measures that show whether a voter has cast a ballot can help to allay concerns of voter fraud.

• There has been a rise in unaffiliated candidates and voters: Unaffiliated voters in NC are growing faster than any other party or registration. However, unaffiliated candidates face steep challenges to be placed on a partisan ballot. Changes to the rule stating that unaffiliated voters cannot serve on Boards of Election might also be considered. 

• Some topics will require further exploration. Committees identified areas for further investigation that may get more study and conclusions in the fall. These areas include:

• Voter ID: The process and consistency of application of voter ID requirements is not as straightforward and uniform as it could be.  

• Redistricting: The redistricting process has challenges, but a path to an independent commission remains to be identified.

• Contested elections: There is concern among committee members that if the outcome for “any elected office” is contested, the NCGA can decide it under Article VI of the NC Constitution and NCGS 163-182.13A.

• Ranked Choice Voting: Some committees worried about the expense and turnout of second primaries. RCV was discussed but a conclusion has not yet been reached.

As part of its commitment to public education the Commission is hosting a series of hearings in 26 cities across the state over the next three months. These Trusted Elections town halls, free and open to the public, will address common “election myths” through expert testimonies and provide an accurate understanding of election administration and integrity in North Carolina. 

A draft report of findings is available online at gmmb.app.box.com/s/se1w860x30z0o9j3dxuty9ewksexxt43. The Committee will publish a final, comprehensive report of its findings and proposed reforms in January 2025, as more learnings may arise from the 2024 election cycle.