North Carolina Senate Passes Two Major Election Law Bills

The North Carolina Senate passed two election laws on July 29, 2026, that significantly alter voting and auditing procedures. House Bill 834 passed unanimously, extending the ballot curing period from three to five business days and allowing voters to challenge State Board of Elections decisions in their home counties. It also prohibits the counting of ballots from voters who die before 11:59 p.m. on the day before an election; these provisions would take effect immediately, impacting the November 2026 election.

House Bill 958 passed 28-13 along party lines after the Senate removed several controversial House provisions, including restrictions on overseas and military voters. The revised bill reduces the early voting period for primaries, runoffs, and special elections from 17 to 10 days. It further mandates that State Auditor Dave Boliek conduct performance audits of county election systems at least once every six years and requires the State Board of Elections to vet voter rolls against federal noncitizen databases.

Republicans defended the legislation as a means to ensure election integrity and ease administrative burdens. Conversely, Democrats characterized the measures as a power grab, arguing that shortening the early voting window and utilizing unreliable federal databases could disenfranchise eligible voters. Both bills must now return to the North Carolina House of Representatives for concurrence before proceeding to Governor Josh Stein.