WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Yesterday, the Republican National Committee (RNC)
secured a legal victory after a North Carolina court ruled a state board of
elections directive that a state law that allowed certain individuals who have
never resided in the state to register to vote was
unconstitutional.
“This is
a clear win for fair and lawful elections,” said RNC Chairman Joe Gruters. “The
court upheld the North Carolina Constitution and made clear that only North
Carolina residents can vote in the state. The RNC will keep fighting to ensure
only eligible citizens can vote."
On
Background:
- Yesterday, the
Wake County Superior Court ruled that the North Carolina Board of
Elections violated the state constitution by allowing individuals who were
born overseas and have never lived in North Carolina to vote in federal
elections in the state.
- The North Carolina
Supreme Court ruled last year in Griffin v North Carolina Board of
Elections that people who have never lived in the state cannot
vote in state elections.
- After the
State Supreme Court's decision, the North Carolina Board of Elections
stopped allowing non-residents to vote for state offices but continued to
allow them to vote in federal elections.
- The RNC brought
the case to make sure only North Carolina residents
can vote in the state's elections. The North Carolina Supreme Court's
decision was clear: individuals who do not live—and have never lived—in
North Carolina are not allowed to choose who represents the people of the
state.
- The court's ruling does not
affect voters who qualify under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), which applies to U.S. citizens who have
previously lived in a state or who are currently serving overseas.
