Immigration authorities have told election officials in North Carolina to hand over voting records dating back almost ten years by the end of September. On Friday (August 31st, 2018), the US Attorney’s Office for North Carolina’s Eastern District subpoenaed records from 44 county election boards in the state’s eastern areas as well as from the state board, a move requested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
From 1 January 2010 to 30 August 2018, the state records requested included the likes of voter registration applications, early voting application forms, requests for absentee ballot forms, voter registration revocation or cancellation forms, federal postcard applications, provisional voting forms, and denial or admission of non-citizen return forms.
There are almost 7 million registered voters in North Carolina, the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement says, with the voter registration database of the state containing over 15 million documents and images. The request for the 44 counties includes over 2.2 million ballots cast at early voting or by mail, which feature an identifying number, the board says. The request also includes over 3.3 million ballots to individuals who voted on Election Day who cannot be traced. There are over 556,094 traceable ballots in Wake County.
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s interim executive director, Kareem Crayton, says that the scope and timing of the subpoenas from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raises troubling questions on the wisdom and necessity of the federal government interfering with the upcoming state elections.