Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE), a non-profit organization that supports litigation to protect election security and integrity, today asked a North Carolina court to act immediately to prevent people who have never lived in the state from voting in November’s election. Earlier this month, RITE filed suit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections (“NCSBE”) to ensure that only eligible citizens can vote in state elections. Today, RITE asked the court to take action before the upcoming election.
Derek Lyons, RITE’s President and CEO, issued the following statement:
“North Carolina’s elections should be decided by North Carolina’s residents, not people living overseas who may have never even set foot in the state. North Carolina’s Constitution is clear on this point. Unfortunately, an obscure state statute purports to confer the right to vote on people born to Americans overseas who have never lived in the United States, let alone in North Carolina. This statute is unconstitutional, and these individuals do not have any right to participate in—let alone potentially decide—North Carolina’s elections. Ballots from these individuals should not be counted in the upcoming election or any future election.
Background: North Carolina’s Constitution specifically requires individuals to reside in the state in order to vote. However, a state statute directly conflicts with this requirement by permitting citizens born abroad to vote in North Carolina, even if they have never lived in the country, let alone the state. This statute is unconstitutional and its enforcement must be blocked so that only ballots cast by eligible resident citizens count in the state’s elections.
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