On August 18, 2025, North Carolina election officials announced a significant update in their ongoing effort to ensure accurate voter registration records: more than 20,000 voter registrations have been amended to include missing identification numbers. This move comes as part of a broader, high-stakes campaign to address longstanding compliance issues with federal and state election laws, and it arrives just weeks before crucial municipal elections.
The drive to update these records, known as the "Registration Repair Project," began in mid-July 2025 after the State Board of Elections sought to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. The lawsuit targeted voter registration records missing either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number—key data points required by law since 2004. Yet, for about a decade, North Carolina’s voter registration form failed to clearly communicate that voters needed to provide these numbers if they had them, leaving thousands of records incomplete.
According to the Associated Press, the now Republican-controlled State Board of Elections—having flipped from Democratic control in the spring—launched a public online database listing 103,270 registrants lacking the necessary numerical identifiers. The board then asked these voters to submit the required information via the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website or by visiting their local county election offices. County election officials also undertook their own research to help update these records.
By August 18, 2025, the number of voters on the list had dropped by 20%, down to approximately 82,540, thanks to these combined efforts. The State Board of Elections is now sending letters to those who have not yet provided their ID numbers or indicated that they have neither a driver’s license nor a Social Security number. These letters offer multiple options for submission: mailing the information back in a prepaid envelope, updating online through the DMV website, or visiting a county elections office in person. "It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s free," said Sam Hayes, the board’s executive director, in a statement quoted by multiple outlets. "We strongly encourage all voters on the Registration Repair list to take action now and avoid any issues the next time they show up to vote."
The urgency is real: those who do not update their registration will be required to cast a provisional ballot in upcoming municipal elections, which begin as early as next month. Provisional ballots are not guaranteed to be counted in all races, particularly if the required ID information is not provided in time. Historically, these ballots have been rejected at higher rates than standard ballots, raising concerns about the potential impact on close elections in a state with a reputation as a perpetual battleground.
According to Anderson Alerts, the issue is not the fault of the voters themselves. For years, the state’s registration form made providing a driver’s license number or Social Security number appear optional—a problem that persisted across both Democratic and Republican administrations. While the form has since been corrected, the state now faces the daunting task of retroactively identifying and contacting affected voters. The problem gained particular attention during the 2024 Supreme Court election, when a protest by Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin highlighted the consequences of incomplete voter records. Although the state Supreme Court ultimately dismissed Griffin's protest, the Trump administration’s subsequent lawsuit forced the board to act.
The board’s plan to contact voters was adopted unanimously, with a clear priority: reach those who most urgently need to update their registration. The first round of mailers is targeting more than 82,000 people, with another estimated 96,000 voters expected to receive a separate notice later in the summer. However, this second group can continue voting normally, as there is evidence they have previously supplied the necessary information or an alternate ID as permitted by law.
Voters who receive a letter have three main options to update their registration. First, they can mail back the form included in the letter using the prepaid return envelope. Second, they can update their information online at payments.ncdot.gov, using their North Carolina driver’s license or DMV identification card. The process is free and straightforward—simply click "yes" when prompted to update voter information. Third, they can visit their county board of elections office in person and provide the information directly. As Sam Hayes emphasized, "Taking action now will avoid any issues the next time they show up to vote."
For those wondering if their update was successful, the State Board of Elections Registration Repair Search Tool is available online and should reflect changes within a few days. If a voter’s name still appears on the list after 10 days, they are encouraged to contact their county board of elections for assistance.
The impact of these missing numerical IDs has been felt beyond administrative headaches. As reported by the Associated Press, the issue led to complaints and litigation leading up to the 2024 elections and played a prominent role in a very close judicial race. U.S. attorneys have argued that accurate registration rolls are essential for fair and reliable election results. Yet, the process has not been without controversy. Many Democrats have pointed out that these voters are already subject to scrutiny, as all North Carolinians must show a photo ID to vote under current law. The additional requirement to provide numerical identifiers has raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement, especially if provisional ballots are not ultimately counted in tight races.
North Carolina, with its 7.57 million registered voters, has long been a political battleground. The possibility that ballots could go uncounted because of incomplete registration records is not lost on election officials or political observers. The stakes are high: in a state where elections can be decided by razor-thin margins, every eligible vote matters.
The outreach campaign is not limited to a single region. Counties across the state are affected, with Bertie, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, and Perquimans among those with significant numbers of impacted voters—ranging from about 100 to 500 per county, according to local news reports.
Behind the scenes, the effort to clean up the voter rolls has been robust. The "Registration Repair Project" launched just a month ago and, already, county boards of elections and individual voters have helped resolve 20,000 cases. The original list of 103,270 affected registrants has shrunk, but the challenge is far from over. As municipal elections approach, the board is racing to ensure as many voters as possible are able to cast regular ballots without complications.
For those who have yet to act, the message is clear: update your registration now to ensure your vote counts. As North Carolina gears up for another round of elections, the integrity and inclusiveness of its voter rolls remain under the microscope. The coming weeks will reveal just how effective this massive outreach campaign has been—and whether it can restore confidence in a process that, for too long, left too many voters in limbo.
