Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks RNC’s Efforts to Clean Up NC Voter Rolls—225,000 Potentially Ineligible Voters Remain Amid Legal Concerns
In a recent legal battle over election integrity, Trump-appointed Judge Richard E. Meyers partially dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the North Carolina Republican Party. The lawsuit targeted the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), claiming it failed to follow federal election laws by not gathering sufficient identification details from over 225,000 voter registration applicants. This lawsuit was based on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which mandates specific identification requirements to verify voter eligibility before allowing applicants onto voter rolls.
According to the RNC, the NCSBE allegedly accepted registration forms missing critical details like Social Security digits or driver’s license numbers, a violation the RNC argues could lead to ineligible individuals, including possible non-citizens, appearing on North Carolina’s voter rolls. The RNC claims this oversight undermines both election security and public trust in the electoral process.
Judge Meyers, however, dismissed the main federal claim, asserting that the RNC lacked the authority to sue under HAVA for perceived noncompliance. He emphasized that HAVA’s provisions do not grant private parties, like the RNC, the legal right to enforce its rules in court. This enforcement, Judge Meyers clarified, rests solely with state and federal authorities, effectively blocking the RNC’s attempt to compel NCSBE compliance with HAVA through the federal judiciary.
The court’s dismissal of this primary federal claim, known as Count One, does not fully close the case. Instead, the judge sent the remaining claims back to North Carolina’s state courts, where they will determine whether the NCSBE is obligated by state law to correct any deficiencies in the voter registration list. Specifically, North Carolina law may still require the NCSBE to rectify errors in registration forms to maintain accurate voter rolls.
Read the ruling below:
court-documentNow, the potential review of state law could allow North Carolina courts to decide if adjustments are needed to verify the eligibility of these voters. This legal outcome has reignited debate around voter registration security as the nation heads toward another major election.
Sullivan pens a regular column that focuses on corruption within government, cronyism, illegal immigration, and general left-wing malfeasance. Kathy also serves as a leading voice against the establishment within the Republican Party and enthusiastically promotes pro-Trump candidates to battle entrenched moderate incumbents.
