Republicans' Voting Rule Changes in NC May Boost Midterm Gains

WHO:

CNN - President Trump and his allies are involved in reshaping midterm elections.

CNN - Sam Chan is a spokesperson for former Governor Roy Cooper.

CNN - Roy Cooper is running against Republican Michael Whatley.

CNN - Dallas Woodhouse is a former executive director of the state’s Republican Party.

CNN - Josh Stein is the Democratic Governor of North Carolina.

Alternet - Dave Boliek is the Republican State Auditor of North Carolina.

Alternet - Allison Riggs is a Democratic incumbent Justice.

Alternet - Jefferson Griffin is a Republican candidate for the state Supreme Court.

WHAT:

CNN - The North Carolina state elections board voted to direct election officials not to count absentee ballots returned with the inner envelope unsealed.

CNN - The number of early voting sites has grown to a record 367 for the midterm elections, up from 359 during the 2022 midterms.

CNN - Just 17 counties will allow early voting on Sundays this year, down from 40 in 2022.

Alternet - The North Carolina Appeals Court ruled 2-1 to uphold the legislature's decision to strip the governor of election appointment powers, marking the first time in 125 years that elections will be run by someone other than the executive branch.

WRAL - The 2-1 ruling by the North Carolina Court of Appeals was divided along party lines, with Republicans in favor and the lone Democrat dissenting.

CNN - The number of early voting sites has grown to a record 367 for the midterm elections, up from 359 during the 2022 midterms.

CNN - Just 17 counties will allow early voting on Sundays this year, down from 40 in 2022.

CNN - Democrats had requested roughly 42% of the 67,990 absentee-by-mail ballots as of a recent Tuesday, while Republicans requested about 17%.

CNN - North Carolina has curtailed Sunday voting and imposed new restrictions on mail-in ballots.

CNN - The State Board of Elections voted on September 4 to not count absentee ballots returned with unsealed inner envelopes.

CNN - The number of early voting sites has increased to a record 367 for the midterm elections.

Alternet - The North Carolina Appeals Court ruled 2-1 to uphold the legislature's decision to strip the governor of election appointment powers.

Alternet - The elections board has shifted from a 3-2 Democratic majority to a 3-2 Republican majority.

WHERE:

CNN - North Carolina is the state where these voting rule changes are occurring.

CNN - North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University is a location mentioned regarding student voting access.

Alternet - The ruling affects elections in North Carolina, which has not seen such a shift in 125 years.

WHEN:

CNN - The State Board of Elections made its last move on September 4.

CNN - Early voting is set to begin on October 15.

Alternet - The court ruling occurred recently, with a 51-page order detailing the decision.

WHY:

WRAL - Governor Josh Stein stated that the ruling is part of a "power grab" by Republicans to control elections after losing the governorship.

CNN - Republicans argue that changes are necessary to ensure election integrity.

Alternet - The ruling is seen as a "power grab" by the GOP to control elections after losing the governorship.

HOW:

WRAL - The legislature passed a law in late 2024 that stripped election power from the governor and transferred it to State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican.

CNN - Republicans gained control of elections boards by stripping power from the Democratic governor through legislative action.

CNN - The board limited who can drop off mail ballots to "near relatives" and legal guardians.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 16:00 UTC)

In a significant ruling, the North Carolina Appeals Court upheld a decision to strip the governor of election appointment powers, marking the first time in 125 years that elections will be managed by someone outside the executive branch. This 2-1 ruling, which fell along party lines, has been criticized by Governor Josh Stein as a "power grab" by Republicans following their loss of the governorship. Additionally, the North Carolina state elections board has decided not to count absentee ballots that are returned with unsealed inner envelopes, while the number of early voting sites has reached a record 367, although only 17 counties will offer early voting on Sundays this year, a decrease from 40 in 2022.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 13:07 UTC)

In a significant ruling, the North Carolina Appeals Court has upheld a decision to strip the governor of election appointment powers, marking the first time in 125 years that elections will be overseen by someone outside the executive branch. Governor Josh Stein criticized this move as a "power grab" by Republicans following their loss of the governorship, while early voting sites for the upcoming midterm elections have reached a record 367, although early voting on Sundays has decreased to just 17 counties. As of a recent Tuesday, Democrats have requested about 42% of the absentee-by-mail ballots, compared to roughly 17% requested by Republicans.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 11:00 UTC)

President Trump and his allies are actively reshaping the midterm elections in North Carolina, where significant changes to voting rules have been implemented, including curtailed Sunday voting and new restrictions on mail-in ballots. The North Carolina Appeals Court recently upheld a ruling that strips the governor of election appointment powers, resulting in a shift in the elections board from a Democratic majority to a Republican one, which Republicans argue is necessary to ensure election integrity. Early voting is set to begin on October 15, and the number of early voting sites has reached a record 367, while the elections board has limited mail ballot drop-offs to "near relatives" and legal guardians.