RALEIGH, NC — A controversial lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against the North Carolina State Board of Elections is igniting fears of widespread voter disenfranchisement — all while the board itself agrees with the DOJ’s demands.
Filed on May 27, 2025, just two weeks after Republican lawmakers took control of the state’s elections board, the lawsuit alleges that hundreds of thousands of voter registrations may be out of compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, due to missing digits from required identification numbers such as driver’s licenses or Social Security cards.
An Unusual Legal Alliance
The lawsuit has raised eyebrows because the defendants — the North Carolina Board of Elections and its executive director Sam Hayes — appear to support the DOJ’s position. Critics argue that this is a calculated strategy by the Trump-aligned DOJ to fast-track sweeping voter reforms without going through the legislative process.
“This isn’t just a lawsuit — it’s a rubber stamp for mass disenfranchisement,” said Anderson Clayton, Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. “We’re not dealing with people that have real interest in enfranchising voters.”
Potential for Voter Purge
While the DOJ has not explicitly called for a voter purge, the legal complaint requests that the Board contact voters missing required ID information and give them just 30 days to respond. If voters don’t comply in time, the board may cancel their registrations…