Police Misconduct and Voter Intimidation Reported in Charlotte
Law enforcement agencies in Charlotte, North Carolina, faced allegations of racial profiling and voter intimidation during the 2026 midterm early voting period.
Black and brown voters in Charlotte, North Carolina, experienced systemic intimidation and police misconduct during the 2026 midterm early voting period that concluded October 31. Investigations by WBTV found that officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department used a text thread to compete over pulling over Black drivers, employing racial slurs and discussing the use of force.
Federal intervention further escalated tensions when United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents held a U.S. citizen and his nephew at gunpoint during a traffic stop near a polling site. Forward Justice reported that nearly one-third of its voter calls concerned police presence at polling places.
These incidents occurred after the North Carolina General Assembly repealed the mandatory traffic-stop data reporting requirement on July 1, 2026. Attorney General Jeff Jackson responded to the reports by stating that voter intimidation, including actions taken by law enforcement, is a serious crime under both state and federal law.
