Stein Urges In-Person Voting, Says Mail Ballot Rejections Are 'Twice as High' as 2022; State Board Data Show 3.1% So Far vs. 2.6% at Same Point in 2022
North Carolina's governor blames new State Board of Elections rules on sealing absentee envelopes. The board's own early data show a smaller increase, and critics say his comparison overstates the problem.
Two numbers, one governor
Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, told North Carolinians on Oct. 20-21 to vote in person if they can. He said new State Board of Elections rules are "leading to thousands more absentee ballots being rejected this election – at a rejection rate twice as high as in 2022." He called it "infuriating"[1][2].
The state board's own early data tell a smaller story. A board spokesperson said 3.1% of mail ballots have been spoiled so far. At the same point in 2022, the figure was 2.6%[2][4]. That's a rise of about half a percentage point. It isn't a doubling.
Both claims are on the record. They answer different questions. The first is "compared with what?" The second is "lost for good, or set aside for now?"
What the new rule does
The Republican-majority board adopted the rules on Sept. 4, in a party-line vote[3][4]. One rule says a mail ballot's inner envelope must be sealed. If it isn't, the ballot is "spoiled."
Spoiling is different from "curing." In a cure process, the voter fixes a flaw on the original ballot, such as signing a missing form. In a spoil process, the original ballot is voided. The voter gets a new one, or votes in person[2][3].
Supporters say spoiling keeps every counted ballot fully compliant and keeps the vote private and secure. Critics say the extra steps make some voters give up. News reports say few voters actually fix their ballots[3].
The baseline problem
The word "twice" depends entirely on the comparison. The board's same-stage North Carolina figure gives 3.1% against 2.6%. North Carolina's final 2022 mail rejection rate was about 2.2%, according to WRAL[3]. The 2022 national rate was about 1.5%[7].
Against the national rate, 3% is double. Against North Carolina's own 2022 number at the same stage, it isn't. Democracy Docket uses the national comparison[6][7]. Common Cause and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice surveyed about 27 counties and put the rate near 3%. They call that double the 2022 midterm rate[2][3].
County numbers are also tricky. Wake and Durham counties each reported about 2.5% of mail ballots set aside for unsealed inner envelopes alone. Guilford reported upwards of 2%[6][3]. But WBTV found Mecklenburg County at about 3% spoiled so far, which is 572 of 18,900 requests. Its full 2022 cycle was 9%. That shows how much the baseline can shift the story[4].
Why each side pushes its number
Stein's argument is about voters, not percentages. A ballot set aside over an unsealed flap may never be counted if the voter misses the notice or the deadline. His side also says the board changed the rules in September, after mail voting had begun. That left voters following old habits and instructions[1][2]. In-person voting, they say, is the one place a packaging mistake can't void a ballot.
The board sees it differently. It calls the change a "slight increase." A spoiled ballot, it says, is not a thrown-away vote[2][4]. Executive Director Sam Hayes, a former aide to a top Republican state lawmaker, said a court ruling "does not change how [voters] cast their ballots or the instructions they have already received"[9].
Both sides also have a stake in the outcome. Stein is in a fight with a Republican-controlled board over who runs elections. Democrats also want to protect mail turnout before the midterms[2][3]. Whichever party relies more on mail voting has more to lose from higher spoil rates. That helps explain why one side stresses "doubling" and the other stresses "slight."
Voting-rights groups add a point about who is hit hardest. They say the sealing rule falls on older voters, voters with disabilities, and voters with limited mobility who struggle with small envelopes[3]. In their view, spoiling adds a burden many voters never get past.
Republican critics say Stein is using his office to steer people away from mail voting with an inflated number. They say 3.1% versus 2.6% is "hardly double." They also see clear envelope rules as basic ballot security[5].
The court said the rules stand
On Oct. 19, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder of the Middle District of North Carolina denied a preliminary injunction against the rules. A preliminary injunction is a court order that pauses a rule while a lawsuit continues. The court found the signature and sealing requirements aren't undue burdens. It said blocking them after voting began would be "infeasible"[8][9].
That reasoning follows the Purcell principle. It holds that courts should avoid changing election rules once voting is underway. The rules will stay in place for November[8][9]. The groups that sued lost their bid this cycle. They now turn to voter outreach and to building a record for later litigation.
How the coverage split
The word choice tells you where an outlet stands. "Rejected" is Stein's word. "Spoiled" is the board's. CBS17 used "spoiled," the most precise term, though also the board's preferred one[2].
RedState called Stein's claim a "whopper" and "fake news." It leaned on the board's figures and left out the county data showing sealing errors alone voiding 2% to 2.5% of ballots[5]. Democracy Docket and Raw Story stressed that "thousands" of ballots were "thrown out" under "GOP-imposed" rules. Raw Story wrote that ballots were going "to the trash." Neither made clear that spoiled-ballot voters can get a replacement or vote in person[6].
Local TV and public radio sat in between. WBTV called the doubling claim "premature"[4]. WUNC put Common Cause's 3% beside the board's "slight increase"[2]. WRAL focused on what voters can do to fix a problem[3]. No outlets outside the U.S. covered it that we found.
What's still open
About 3 of every 100 mail voters so far have to take another step to get their vote counted[2][3]. Whether that's a minor hurdle or a real barrier depends on how many follow through. Reports say few do.
The numbers will keep moving as more ballots arrive. The spoil rate could rise or fall before Election Day. So could the share of voters who fix their ballots. Those two figures, more than the argument over "twice," will show how many mail votes the new rule costs.
Summary
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, urged voters on Oct. 20-21, 2026 to vote in person if they can[1][2]. He said new State Board of Elections rules for mail ballots are 'leading to thousands more absentee ballots being rejected this election – at a rejection rate twice as high as in 2022.' He called it 'infuriating'[1]. The rules were adopted Sept. 4 by the Republican-majority board in a party-line vote[3][4]. One rule requires a ballot's inner envelope to be sealed. If it is not, the ballot is 'spoiled' and the voter gets a new one or can vote in person[2][3].
The main dispute is over one number. A State Board spokesperson said early data show 3.1% of mail ballots spoiled so far, against 2.6% at the same point in 2022. That is a rise of about half a percentage point, not a doubling[2][4]. Critics, including the conservative site RedState, say Stein's claim overstates the problem[5]. Voting-rights groups estimate about 3% of mail ballots have been rejected so far and describe that as double the 2022 midterm rate[2][3]. Democracy Docket compares it with the national 2022 rate of about 1.5%[6][7]. The answer changes with the baseline: same-stage North Carolina data, North Carolina's final 2022 rate (about 2.2%), or the national rate.
A second dispute is over what 'rejected' means. A spoiled ballot does not count as cast. But the voter is told and can still vote, either with a replacement ballot or in person[2][3]. Supporters of Stein's warning point out that few voters actually fix their ballots[3]. Critics say a spoiled ballot is a second chance, not a lost vote. On Oct. 19, a federal judge refused to block the rules for this election[8][9].
The Event
On Oct. 20-21, 2026, Gov. Josh Stein posted on X and spoke publicly, urging North Carolinians to vote in person. He said mail ballot rejections were running 'twice as high as in 2022' under new State Board of Elections rules[1][2][10]. A State Board spokesperson told reporters that preliminary data showed 3.1% of mail ballots spoiled so far, compared with 2.6% at the same stage in 2022[2][4]. On Oct. 19, a federal judge in the Middle District of North Carolina refused to block the rules[8][9].
Undisputed Facts
- The State Board of Elections adopted new absentee ballot rules on Sept. 4, 2026, in a party-line vote by its Republican majority[3][4].
- Under the rules, a mail ballot whose inner envelope is not sealed is 'spoiled.' The voter is sent a new ballot or may vote in person[2][3].
- Gov. Stein said rejections are 'twice as high as in 2022' and urged voters to vote in person or seal both envelopes[1][2].
- A State Board spokesperson said preliminary data show a 3.1% spoiled rate in 2026, vs. 2.6% at the same stage in 2022[2][4].
- Wake and Durham counties each reported about 2.5% of mail ballots set aside solely for unsealed inner envelopes. Guilford County reported upwards of 2%[6][3].
- On Oct. 19, 2026, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder (M.D.N.C.) denied a preliminary injunction against the rules. The court found the signature and sealing requirements are not undue burdens and said blocking them after voting had begun would be 'infeasible,' citing the Purcell principle against changing election rules once voting is underway[8][9].
- Voters with spoiled ballots can fix the problem, but news reports say few do[3].
The Pressure
Strip away the moralizing and blame. What structural realities persist regardless of which narrative wins?
- Fight over control of the board
- The State Board of Elections has a Republican majority. Stein, a Democrat, opposes its rules. The board's executive director is a former aide to a Republican legislative leader. Any rule the board adopts gets read through that power struggle[9][2].
- Who votes by mail
- The rules apply to mail voters. Whichever party relies more on mail voting has more to lose from higher spoil rates. That explains why Democrats push the 'doubling' claim and Republicans push the 'slight increase' figure[1][5].
- Spoil vs. cure
- Under a 'cure' process, a voter fixes a flaw in the original ballot, for example by signing a form. Under the 'spoil' process, the original ballot is voided and the voter must start over with a new ballot or vote in person. Supporters say spoiling keeps every counted ballot fully compliant and secure. Critics say the extra steps cause some voters to drop out entirely[2][3].
Material realitySo far, about 3 in every 100 North Carolina mail ballots have been spoiled. The board's 3.1% compares with 2.6% at the same stage in 2022[2][4]. In large counties, sealing errors alone account for about 2% to 2.5% of ballots received[6][3]. North Carolina's final 2022 mail rejection rate was reported at about 2.2%[3]. The 2022 national rate was about 1.5%[7]. So 'double' holds against the national figure but not against North Carolina's same-stage figure. County comparisons can also mislead: WBTV reported Mecklenburg County at about 3% spoiled so far (572 of 18,900 requests) against 9% over its full 2022 cycle, which shows how much the baseline matters[4]. Spoiled-ballot voters can still vote, but news reports say few cure their ballots. A voter who does not follow up may not have a vote counted[3]. The rules will stay in place for November after the Oct. 19 ruling[8][9].
Narrative as a weaponStein and progressive outlets want readers to believe Republican rules are throwing out votes at twice the normal rate. They support this with a comparison to the national rate and with county sealing data. The board and conservative outlets want readers to believe the governor inflated a modest half-point increase in order to steer voters away from mail ballots. They support this with the state's same-stage data and the fact that voters get a replacement ballot. Local TV and public radio sit in between. Their word choice tells: 'rejected' (Stein's word) vs. 'spoiled' (the board's word). Neither side's headline number is false. They answer different questions: compared with what, and lost for good or set aside for now.
How Each Side Sees It
Each major actor’s view — how it frames things, its underlying incentive, and how it’s materially affected. Tap a side to read it.
Frames it asTheir core argument is about voters, not percentages. A ballot set aside over an unsealed flap is a vote that may never be counted, especially if the voter misses the notice or the deadline[1][3]. They say the board changed the rules in September, after mail voting had already begun to ramp up. That left voters following old habits and instructions[1][2]. In their view, the honest response is to steer people to in-person voting, where a packaging mistake cannot void a ballot[1].
WhyStein is fighting the Republican-controlled board over who runs elections. Democrats also want to protect turnout among mail voters ahead of the midterms[2][3].
Impact on themIf his warning works, more Democratic-leaning mail voters shift to in-person voting. If his number is seen as inflated, his credibility on election administration takes a hit[4][5].
Frames it asThe board says the data show a 'slight increase,' about half a percentage point, not a doubling[2][4]. Spoiling a ballot is not the same as throwing a vote away. The voter is sent a new ballot or may vote in person[2]. A sealed inner envelope keeps a ballot private and secure between the voter and the count. A federal judge agreed the requirement is not an undue burden[8][9]. Executive Director Sam Hayes said the court ruling 'does not change how [voters] cast their ballots or the instructions they have already received'[9].
WhyDefend its rules and its control of election administration. Hayes is a former aide to a top Republican state lawmaker[9].
Impact on themRising spoiled-ballot counts bring scrutiny and lawsuits. A court win lets the rules stand through November[8][9].
Frames it asThey say the governor is using the state's own office to discourage mail voting with an inflated number. In their view, the board's figures, 3.1% vs. 2.6%, are 'hardly double' and show the rules have little effect[5][4]. They see clear envelope rules as basic ballot security. A voter who gets a new ballot has lost nothing[5].
WhyHead off a story that Republican rules disenfranchise voters. Defend the board's majority before the election[5].
Impact on themIf the 'doubling' claim takes hold, political pressure on the board grows. Disputing it lets Republicans recast the story as Democratic misinformation[5].
Frames it asThey point to their own survey of preliminary results in about 27 counties, which shows an average rejection rate of about 3%[3]. They say the sealing rule hits hardest the voters least able to correct mistakes: older voters, voters with disabilities, and voters with limited mobility who struggle with small envelopes[3]. In their view, spoiling instead of curing adds a burden that many voters never get past[3].
WhyOverturn or soften the rules. Common Cause is a progressive-leaning advocacy group that brings voting-rights litigation[3][6].
Impact on themThey lost their bid for an injunction this cycle. Now they turn to voter outreach and building a record for later litigation[8][9].
Frames it asTheir interest is practical: getting a ballot counted. A spoiled ballot means a notice, then a new ballot or a trip to the polls, under deadline pressure[2][3].
WhyVote with as little risk and hassle as possible.
Impact on themAbout 3 of every 100 mail voters so far must take another step to have their vote counted[2][3].
Like this article?
The Bias Ledger average rating 4.9
The same story, as framed by outlets across the spectrum, ordered least to most biased. The bias score (1 = straight, 10 = heavily spun) is an AI assessment of that framing — click an outlet to see its track record. The tell is the word choice or omission that reveals the angle.
| Outlet | Vantage | Bias | How they frame it | The tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBS17 | U.S. center (local TV) | 2 | More absentee ballots are being spoiled in North Carolina; here's what voters need to know | It uses the board's exact term, 'spoiled,' instead of 'rejected.' That is the most precise word, and also the board's preferred one. |
| WUNC | U.S. center-left (public radio) | 3 | Gov. Stein encourages in-person voting, citing 'rejection rate' for mail-in ballots | Scare quotes around 'rejection rate' signal doubt. It sets Common Cause's 3% beside the board's 'slight increase' and explains the spoil-and-replace process. |
| WBTV | U.S. center (local TV) | 3 | Are thousands of absentee ballots in North Carolina being rejected? Here's what we know | Framed as a fact-check. It calls the doubling claim 'premature' based on same-stage state data. It gives less room to the county sealing-only figures. |
| WRAL | U.S. center (local TV) | 3 | More NC mail-in ballots are being rejected. What voters can do about it | The headline accepts 'rejected' and 'more,' which is true at either baseline. The voter-service angle focuses on fixes, and it reports that few voters cure. |
| Democracy Docket | U.S. left (founded by Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias) | 7 | Exclusive: Thousands of North Carolina ballots set to be rejected after GOP imposed strict new rules, data shows | 'GOP imposed' and 'thrown out' frame the rule as partisan disenfranchisement. Its 'double' compares to the 2022 national rate, not North Carolina's own 2022 rate. |
| RedState | U.S. right | 8 | NC Gov Spreads Whopper About Absentee Ballot Rejections, and Republicans Better Be Paying Attention | 'Whopper' and 'fake news' (in the URL) give a verdict outright. It leans on the board's 3.1% vs. 2.6% and leaves out county data showing 2% to 2.5% of ballots set aside for sealing alone. |
| Raw Story | U.S. left | 8 | GOP voting rule sending ballots to the trash after backers insisted it wouldn't: report | 'To the trash' implies votes are permanently lost. It leaves out that spoiled-ballot voters get a replacement ballot or can vote in person. |
References
- Governor Josh Stein on X: 'The State Board of Elections' last-minute changes to voting by mail...' — Office of Gov. Josh Stein (X) · Primary source; Democratic governor's official account
- Gov. Stein encourages in-person voting, citing 'rejection rate' for mail-in ballots — WUNC / WFAE · Public radio, listener- and university-supported; center-left audience
- More NC mail-in ballots are being rejected. What voters can do about it — WRAL · Commercial local TV, Raleigh; mainstream
- Are thousands of absentee ballots in North Carolina being rejected? Here's what we know — WBTV · Commercial local TV, Charlotte (Gray Media); mainstream
- NC Gov Spreads Whopper About Absentee Ballot Rejections, and Republicans Better Be Paying Attention — RedState · Conservative blog (Townhall Media / Salem Media)
- Exclusive: Thousands of North Carolina ballots set to be rejected after GOP imposed strict new rules, data shows — Democracy Docket · Progressive outlet founded by Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias
- 1.5% of all absentee/mail-in ballots were rejected in 2022 — PBS (WNET) · Public broadcaster; mainstream
- Memorandum Opinion and Order, Oct. 19, 2026 (U.S. District Court, M.D.N.C.) — U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (hosted by Democracy Docket) · Primary source; court record
- A federal judge lets North Carolina's new absentee ballot rules stand — NC Newsline · Nonprofit outlet in the States Newsroom network; progressive-leaning donors
- Gov. Stein criticizes absentee ballot rejection rate, urges voters to plan ahead — WCTI · Commercial local TV (Sinclair); mainstream to center-right ownership