Citing clear evidence that North Carolina public assistance agencies and motor vehicle offices have violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), Project Vote and its partner voting rights groups filed suit against Kim Strach, the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections (SBOE); Rick Brajer, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, who oversees the operations of the state’s public assistance agencies; Kelly Thomas, Commissioner of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; and Nick Tennyson, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, who together oversee the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.
Plaintiffs include Action NC, Democracy North Carolina, the North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute and three individual North Carolina citizens. The plaintiffs are represented by voting rights groups Project Vote, Demos, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and the law firm of Morrison and Foerster LLP.
Notice letters were sent to state officials in June 2015. The lawsuit was filed on December 15, 2015.
In March 2016 plaintiffs filed motions for a preliminary injunction, and expedited discovery, to seek immediate relief for NC citizens attempting to register for the upcoming election.
On October 27, 2016, a U.S. District Court judge denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss the case, and ordered the state to take actions to ensure that certain citizens who registered through DMVs will be able to cast a provisional ballot that counts on Election Day.
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Nearly 1,500 Votes Being Counted Because of Action NC v. Strach
As a result of a lawsuit brought by Project Vote and partners, over 1,500 North Carolinians—who would otherwise have been disenfranchised—will have their votes counted. Read more
Action NC v. Strach: Directive from Kim Strach to Count Provisional Ballots
Directive from Kim Strach, director of the North Carolina Board of Directors, instructing that provisional ballots of certain voters who attempted to register at DMVs must be counted. Read more
The Role of Voter Suppression in the 2016 Election
While the full impact of voter suppression measures in the United States is unclear, we do have a glimpse into all the many barriers that affected voters and would-be voters in the 2016 elections. Read more
Good News in Lawsuit to Protect NC Voters
A federal judge has ordered North Carolina election officials to take actions to protect eligible citizens and allow them to vote by provisional ballot on November 8. Read more
Federal Court Says North Carolina Likely Violated “Motor Voter” Law
With the 2016 election less than two weeks away, a federal judge has ordered North Carolina election officials to take actions to protect eligible citizens. Read more
Action NC et al v. Strach (North Carolina): Court Order
Court order denying defendants' motion to dismiss, and granting in part plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction Read more
Court Must Intervene to Protect N.C. Voters, Project Vote Argues
At a court hearing this week, Project Vote attorneys argued North Carolina voters need immediate relief in advance of the November election. Read more
The Ugly Climate in North Carolina
Continuing a pattern of discriminatory laws, North Carolina just passed a bill legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Read more
Advocates to Court: Protect Rights of N.C. Voters This November
North Carolina needs to follow the law before the state blocks more people from voting in November. Read more
Voting Rights Advocates Ask Court to Immediately Protect the Rights of N.C. Citizens to Vote in the 2016 Election
Yesterday, Project Vote and partners asked a federal judge to issue an interim order to prevent widespread disenfranchisement of North Carolina voters. Read more