Mail-in ballots will begin to be distributed in North Carolina starting Friday, September 4, the State Board of Elections confirmed.
“All 100 county boards of elections are ready to begin that process,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the NCSBE, at a press conference on September 3. “North Carolina will be the first state in the nation to send out mail-in ballots for the 2026 general election.”
Despite a legal dispute sparked by a new Postal Service rule, prompted by an executive order from President Donald Trump, everything will continue as normal, Hayes explained.
Which USPS rule is in dispute?
The rule states new requirements for the mailing and processing of certain federal ballots.
Some of the changes include envelope design standards and a rule that would require voters' information to be shared with the United States Postal Service.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is one of the attorneys general who sued the Postal Service to block the new rule.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the implementation of the new USPS rule while the lawsuit is being processed.
The decision prevents, for now, the Postal Service from implementing the new requirements while the legal process continues.
The Trump administration has appealed the ruling. Therefore, further court decisions could be made before the November election.
According to Hayes, this legal battle should not alter the way voters request, complete, or return their absentee ballots by mail.
“I don’t anticipate any changes impacting voters or the processes counties are using when mail-in voting begins tomorrow. For voters, the process for casting their ballot will remain the same,” Hayes said.
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter registered in North Carolina You can vote by mail and request an absentee ballot. This includes citizens who are on military service or who reside abroad.
Voters who wish to vote by mail can also request the North Carolina absentee ballot form and send it to their county board of elections.
Voters will be able to continue requesting mail-in ballots. until October 20th at 5 pmalthough officials suggest sending it in advance.
Election officials recommend that voters check the requirements and the corresponding deadlines before choosing how to cast their vote.
Related: North Carolina can begin sending out mail-in ballots after court ruling
SCSJ warns that the USPS rule violates North Carolina law
The non-profit organization Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) argues that the USPS rule conflicts with state law.
North Carolina law requires that absentee voting records be kept confidential until election day, they explained.
“The USPS Final Rule mandate to disclose information identifying voters who have requested absentee ballots directly conflicts with North Carolina law, which prohibits disclosing such information before Election Day,” they explained in a letter.
SCSJ also warns that the USPS's new verification process could result in some absentee ballots not being sent to voters. According to the organization, this would conflict with state laws requiring that requested ballots be sent to eligible voters.
The organization also maintains that the USPS cannot override these state protections without a federal court order.
Therefore, SCSJ urges the State Board of Elections not to implement the USPS rule until there is a court order authorizing it.
Hayes responded to reporters' questions that the NCSBE will only authorize what is legally possible.
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