(Jan. 27, 2026) — The North Carolina State Board of Elections has proposed several rules establishing a challenge process for voters deemed “presumptive non-citizens,” and has opened a public comment period from January 15 to March 16, 2026. While the exact process for identifying challenged voters is not yet public, the State Board of Elections has indicated that county boards of elections will bring and hear challenges to voters based upon information received from the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
As recently pointed out by SCSJ and partner Fair Elections Center, recent changes to the SAVE system have introduced highly unreliable citizenship information and resulted in other states having eligible voters’ citizenship wrongly questioned. In a December 16, 2025, letter, SCSJ and Fair Elections Center urged the North Carolina State Board of Elections to exercise extreme caution in using the federal SAVE system for voter roll maintenance, and warned that those recent changes make it more likely to wrongly flag eligible U.S. citizens as noncitizens — potentially impacting their ability to vote.
On January 27, 2026, SCSJ, FEC, and partners League of Women Voters of North Carolina and Common Cause North Carolina urged the North Carolina State Board of Elections to adopt revisions to the Proposed Rules to protect eligible voters at risk of being removed during the challenge process.
Read the public comment on proposed non-citizen list maintenance rules here.
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
