North Carolina to Remove Non-Citizens from Voter Rolls
North Carolina is set to remove non-citizens exempt from jury duty from its voter registrations, as recently reported. The Republican National Committee (RNC), alongside the North Carolina Republican Party, announced a consent decree that compels the state’s Board of Elections to utilize jury service records to pinpoint registered voters who declare they aren’t U.S. citizens.
This step is seen as a crucial legal victory, especially amid strong pushback from Democrats regarding voter integrity measures. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters remarked, “It’s straightforward: If someone admits to being a non-citizen during jury duty, that detail ought to be utilized to check voter registrations and remove those individuals.”
Ruling by Judge
Superior Court Judge Jennifer Bedford accepted the agreement following a brief online hearing. She emphasized that the information emerging from the General Assembly shouldn’t be ignored. Bedford also noted that what is submitted to the court should be acknowledged by other relevant agencies.
The agreement outlines a timeline extending to 2028, during which clerks must provide data to the elections commission. Once the commission receives this, they have 30 days to investigate the citizenship status of registered voters and report back to the county board, as well as refer cases to the appropriate authorities if individuals are found to have voted without citizenship.
Concerns Raised
Groups such as North Carolina Asian Americans Together and El Pueblo expressed concerns regarding a stipulation in the agreement that would make a list of those claiming non-citizenship available on the state’s Board of Elections’ website. They argued that, despite being public records, posting this information online might lead to privacy issues and could deter individuals from coming forward.
This agreement follows a lawsuit filed by Republican parties in 2024, which alleged that the state board had not complied with a law requiring the reporting of individuals seeking jury duty exemptions due to their non-citizen status.
Continuing Legal Actions
State law clearly prohibits non-citizens from voting or serving on juries. Momentum for action ramped up after Governor Roy Cooper’s vetoes failed to stop measures aimed at maintaining voter rolls, which included efforts to remove unauthorized immigrants.
If the court grants approval, the Board of Elections will be obligated to examine data from county clerks, identify individuals registered who lack eligibility, and initiate removal processes.
The RNC had previously requested public records in 2024 to check compliance with existing laws but received no response, leading to further legal action. The organization intends to defend the ongoing lawsuit and is receptive to broader efforts aimed at scrutinizing voter eligibility and citizenship.
Polling indicates a significant portion of North Carolinians is in favor of removing non-citizens from voter registration roles, cutting across party lines—83% of Republicans, 59% of independents, and 52% of Democrats support this move.
