Foundation Alleges North Carolina Is Violating Motor Voter Law

(RALEIGH, NC.) – June 18, 2019: The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) filed a lawsuit Monday against the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) for failing to disclose noncitizen registered voter records as required under federal law (Public Interest Legal Foundation v. N.C. State Bd. of Elections).

“The NCSBE is hiding records detailing their reported efforts to identify and remove noncitizens registered to vote,” PILF President and General Counsel J. Christian Adams said. “The disclosure of these records will better improve policymakers’ understanding of how to prevent future ineligible registrations—as opposed to constantly playing defense.”

The NCSBE denied access to several forms of documentation outlining how state and/or local officers identify and eventually remove registrants for citizenship-eligibility defects using immigration or driver licensing data. These refusals constitute a violation of the public inspection rights under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, as outlined in the complaint.

In 2018, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District indicted 19 foreign nationals for allegedly participating in the 2016 Election and others.

The new case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Western Division. The case number is 5:19-cv-00248. Attorneys for the Public Interest Legal Foundation are J. Christian Adams and Noel H. Johnson. Benton Sawrey of Narron Wenzel, P.A. serves as local counsel.

Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) is a 501(c)(3) public interest law firm dedicated to election integrity. The Foundation exists to assist states and others to aid the cause of election integrity and fight against lawlessness in American elections. Drawing on numerous experts in the field, PILF seeks to protect the right to vote and preserve the Constitutional framework of American elections. ###