# North Carolina Mail Ballot Rules Threaten Thousands of Votes

> North Carolina's new mail ballot rules risk rejecting thousands of votes as voters check status or cast in-person ballots.
- Title: North Carolina Mail Ballot Rules Threaten Thousands of Votes
- Summary: North Carolina's new mail ballot rules risk rejecting thousands of votes as voters check status or cast in-person ballots. North Carolina's mail ballot rules…
- Keywords: north carolina, mail ballot, seahawks, election, senate race, ballot rejection, voter rights, news, local, North, Carolina, Mail
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/21/nation/north-carolina-rules-threaten-mail-ballots
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: north carolina, mail ballot, seahawks, election, senate race, ballot rejection, voter rights, news, local
## New Mail Ballot Rules
North Carolina's new mail ballot rules require sealing both outer and inner envelopes, risking ballot rejection.
## Higher Rejection Rates
Two groups found a 3% statewide ballot rejection rate, two to three times higher than past elections in some counties.
## Razor-Thin Election Margins
North Carolina's close election margins and Senate race could be affected by rejected mail ballots.
## Election Officials' Action
Election officials began mailing ballots on September 4, following new rules that require sealed inner envelopes.
## Key takeaway

North Carolina's mail ballot rules may reject thousands of ballots due to unsealed inner envelopes, risking voter turnout in a close Senate race.