{"id":2338249,"date":"2024-09-07T12:47:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-07T16:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/absentee-voting-instruction-violates-law-north-carolina-plaintiffs-say-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-07T12:51:50","modified_gmt":"2024-09-07T16:51:50","slug":"absentee-voting-instruction-violates-law-north-carolina-plaintiffs-say-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/absentee-voting-instruction-violates-law-north-carolina-plaintiffs-say-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Absentee voting instruction violates law, North Carolina plaintiffs say &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabsentee-voting-instruction-violates-law-north-carolina-plaintiffs-say-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2338249&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A lawsuit has been\u200c filed \u200dagainst North Carolina&#8217;s State Board of \u2063Elections, claiming that \u200da \u200crecent instruction memo contradicts state laws \u200bregarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-urge-dismissal-of-doj-lawsuit-against-georgia-election-law\/\" title=\"House Republicans Urge Dismissal Of DOJ Lawsuit Against Georgia Election Law\">absentee voting procedures<\/a>. The\u200c plaintiffs, including Virginia Wasserberg from Pasquotank \u2063County and representatives from the North Carolina Republican Party and the Republican National\u200b Committee, argue that the State Board&#8217;s guidance undermines legal requirements for absentee ballot security envelopes, which must be sealed for the ballots to count. This case marks the sixth lawsuit against the Board\u2064 in \u200djust\u200d over a month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anti-human-eco-brats-deface-one-of-the-oldest-monuments-on-earth\/\" title=\"Activist Group Vandalizes Ancient Monument\">highlighting ongoing concerns<\/a> about election integrity and adherence to established voting laws. State party \u2062Chairman Jason Simmons criticized\u2064 the board&#8217;s actions and emphasized the importance of following statutory requirements.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Absentee voting instruction violates law, North Carolina plaintiffs say<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1755244\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>(The Center Square) &mdash;<\/strong> Litigation filed against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/North-Carolina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>North Carolina<\/a>&rsquo;s State Board of Elections on Tuesday contests a memo of instruction to county boards of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>elections<\/a> in conflict with absentee by mail ballot state laws.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>For the board, it&rsquo;s lawsuit No. 6 in 43 days, and the fourth in 12.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia Wasserberg, registered in Pasquotank County, is joined by the North Carolina Republican Party and the Republican National Committee on the complaint. They say the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/dl.ncsbe.gov\/sboe\/numbermemo\/2021\/Numbered%20Memo%202021-03_Absentee%20Deficiencies.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state board sent instruction to the 100 county boards<\/a>&nbsp;&ldquo;that disregards election laws requiring absentee ballot security envelopes to be sealed in order for the ballot to count,&rdquo; a release says.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;State law is clear in this matter and it is unfortunate that Director Bell is acting beyond her authority,&rdquo; state party Chairman Jason Simmons said of Elections Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. &ldquo;We will continue to enforce integrity in the elections process and adherence to statutory requirements.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The litigation says Numbered Memo 2021-03, an instruction from Bell, &ldquo;issued guidance&rdquo; and &ldquo;undermines the protections afforded by the General Assembly&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suit-dem-run-election-boards-mail-in-ballot-rule-breaks-nc-law\/\" title=\"Suit: Dem-Run Election Board&#039;s Mail-In Ballot Rule Breaks NC Law\">carefully drafted absentee-voting statutes<\/a>.&rdquo; Four statute references are named that require &ldquo;an absentee ballot must be received by the proper county board of elections in a sealed envelope for the ballot to be counted.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Plaintiffs say the memo &ldquo;advises county boards of elections that an absentee ballot may be counted even if it is not submitted in a sealed container-return envelope.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A declaratory ruling to the board was rejected prior to the lawsuit being filed, the litigation says.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Defendants are the board as a whole, each member in their board capacity, and Bell. The board includes Democrats Alan Hirsch, its chairman, Jeff Carmon and Siobhan Millen; and Republicans Stacy Eggers and Kevin Lewis.<\/p>\n<p>Since July 22, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/north_carolina\/article_3d53c742-63f7-11ef-a8c2-1b1263f76cdd.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state board has been litigated because of decisions<\/a>&nbsp;related to ballot access involving the Justice For All Party, and the We The People Party; voter roll maintenance twice; and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/north_carolina\/article_40ab2806-69fe-11ef-ace8-739795002777.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freedom of speech<\/a>&nbsp;involving John F. Kennedy Jr.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1755244\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1755244\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Absentee voting guidelines breach state law, claim plaintiffs in North Carolina (The Center Square) \u2014 A lawsuit was filed against North Carolina&#8217;s State Board of Elections on Tuesday, challenging a memo issued to county election boards that allegedly contradicts state laws regarding absentee mail-in ballots. This marks the sixth lawsuit against the board in just 43 days and the fourth within 12 days. Virginia Wasserberg, a registered voter from Pasquotank County, has partnered with the North Carolina Republican Party and the Republican National Committee in this legal action. They argue that the state board provided instructions to all 100 county boards that overlook election laws mandating that absentee ballot security envelopes must be sealed for votes to be counted. &#8220;State law is explicit on this issue, and it is regrettable that Director Bell is overstepping her authority,&#8221; stated Jason Simmons, chairman of the state party, referring to Elections Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell. &#8220;We will persist in upholding integrity within the electoral process and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.&#8221; The lawsuit claims that Numbered Memo 2021-03 from Bell offers guidance that undermines protections established by carefully crafted absentee voting statutes from the General Assembly. Four specific statutes are cited which stipulate that an absentee ballot must arrive at the appropriate county board of elections inside a sealed envelope for it to be valid. The plaintiffs assert that this memo suggests ballots can still be counted even if not submitted in a sealed return envelope. Prior to filing this lawsuit, their request for a declaratory ruling was denied by the board. The defendants include both individual members of the board as well as Bell herself; among them are Democrats Alan Hirsch (chairman), Jeff Carmon, Siobhan Millen; and Republicans Stacy Eggers and Kevin Lewis. Since July 22, various legal challenges have been brought against the state board concerning issues related to ballot access for certain parties as well as voter roll maintenance and freedom of speech matters involving John F. Kennedy Jr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2338250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/early-voting.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40373,32258,25723,39028,32076],"class_list":["post-2338249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-absentee-voting","tag-north-carolina","tag-plaintiffs","tag-voting-law","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/early-voting.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2338249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2338249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2338250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2338249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2338249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2338249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}