North Carolina On-Campus Early Voting Sites Elimination Challenge
College Democrats of North Carolina v. North Carolina State Board of Elections
A pro-voting lawsuit challenging the removal of on-campus early voting sites at three North Carolina universities.
Background
College Democrats of North Carolina and student voters are suing the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), the Jackson County Board of Elections and the Guilford County Board of Elections over their decision to eliminate on-campus early voting sites at Western Carolina University (WCU), North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T), and the University of North Carolina–Greensboro (UNC-G) ahead of the March 2026 primary. The lawsuit alleges that removing these sites imposes severe and unnecessary burdens on student voters by forcing them to travel long distances off campus — often without reliable transportation — and by limiting access to same-day registration, which is only available during early voting. Plaintiffs argue that the closures violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments by unduly burdening the right to vote and the Twenty-Sixth Amendment by targeting student voters, particularly young Black voters. They seek a court order preventing the elimination of these on-campus early voting sites for the March 2026 primary.
Why It Matters
For multiple election cycles, students at WCU, NC A&T, and UNC-G — campuses serving more than 40,000 students combined — have been able to vote early where they live and study. That access is not merely a matter of convenience. On-campus early voting has played a critical role in overcoming common barriers faced by student voters, including limited transportation options, unfamiliarity with off-campus polling locations, demanding academic and work schedules, and financial constraints. For many students, on-campus early voting is the difference between being able to participate in an election and being effectively shut out.
Latest Updates
- Feb. 8, 2026: The court denied the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.
- Feb. 5, 2026: Hearing scheduled.
- Jan. 30, 2026: Plaintiffs filed a motion to block North Carolina election officials from closing the on-campus early-voting sites at WCU, A&T, and UNC-G during the early voting period for the March 2026 primary election. Plaintiffs request relief by Feb. 12, which is the start of early-voting.
- Jan. 29, 2026: Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.
- Jan. 27, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.