Military Voting Rights Groups Applaud N.C. Court’s Order

The case stems from RNC’s attempt to question voting eligibility of some overseas voters.

DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2024) – Two nonpartisan groups focused on the voting rights of military-connected individuals, Secure Families Initiatives and Count Every Hero, applauded a North Carolina appellate decision to protect overseas voters.  

The N.C. Court of Appeals’ decision in Kivett v. N.C. State Board of Elections came after a lower court rejected an attempt last week by the RNC and two individual voters to force state election officials to set aside the ballots of some overseas citizens, including adult children of military members. The RNC argued some could be ineligible to vote, but did not provide examples of past problems.  

Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Campaign Legal Center submitted an amicus brief in the case on behalf of Secure Families Initiatives and Count Every Hero, outlining how North Carolina law give adult U.S. citizens with ties to North Carolina the right to vote in state and federal elections. That law passed with bipartisan support more than 12 years ago, in large part to support military-connected families. 

More than 3 million people have cast their ballots in North Carolina, including more than 15,000 overseas voters and nearly 5,000 military members, according to the state elections board.   

The following are statements related to the decision. Representatives from these organizations are available for media interviews and comment as well.  

“We applaud this’s decision, which ensures that the lawful votes cast by the family members of our overseas troops will be counted,” said Admiral (Retired) Steve Abbot, on behalf of Count Every Hero. “Our deployed military members and their families already face too many hurdles when voting, and efforts to challenge the lawful votes of these Americans run contrary to our national values and their service to our country.” 

“North Carolina has robust checks and oversights that apply to military and overseas ballots just like they do to ballots cast in person, which we were glad to see this court affirm” said Sarah Streyder, Executive Director of Secure Families Initiative. “With North Carolina contributing the 4th highest number of military recruits from any state, 49% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color – this unnecessary lawsuit would have further damaged turnout and confidence among a huge number of our troops, in particular those who already face disproportionate barriers to the ballot box.” 

“This was a reckless attempt to keep eligible voters from having their say in this election,” said Jeff Loperfido, Chief Counsel for Voting Rights for Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “We applaud the court’s decisions to reject undemocratic attempts like this to inject uncertainty and confusion in our election system and encourage every eligible voter to take steps to have their voices heard at the ballot box.”  

“This win solidifies that military and overseas voters should be able to exercise their freedom to vote. It also upholds the state laws that make it possible for military and overseas voters to participate in our democracy,” said Paul Smith, Senior Vice President of Campaign Legal Center. “We’re glad the court ruled to protect the brave Americans who have made great sacrifices for our country. They deserve to be able to make their voices heard like any other citizen.”  

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Count Every Hero is a nonpartisan initiative of retired admirals and generals and former service secretaries of the U.S. Armed Forces who have served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. 

Secure Families Initiative is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization of military spouses and family members that advocates for federal and state policies to increase accessibility for absentee voters, especially registered military-affiliated and overseas voters. 

Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  

The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.