Trump administration ends lawsuit after settlement with North Carolina over voter rolls

The Trump administration has ended its lawsuit against North Carolina after officials agreed to improve how the state manages its voter registration records.

The Daily Caller reported that the settlement came after federal prosecutors claimed North Carolina failed to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which requires states to maintain accurate and complete voter registration lists.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the lawsuit on May 27, arguing that North Carolina’s voter registration form did not require important identifying details. This led to more than 100,000 voters being listed without key information on the rolls.

Federal Complaint Targeted Voter Roll Issues

North Carolina’s voter list problem was significant due to the state’s role as a battleground. In 2020, Sen. Thom Tillis was reelected by a margin of 96,000 votes, highlighting how small differences can sway outcomes.

The Justice Department sought court intervention to force the state into compliance with HAVA. The administration stressed that ensuring reliable registration data was central to public confidence in elections.

At the time of the lawsuit, North Carolina officials acknowledged the issue and began addressing the backlog. State leaders described the settlement as a way to formalize improvements already underway.

Settlement Follows Months Of Negotiations

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon explained that the settlement validated the Justice Department’s concerns. She noted that critics who dismissed the case later claimed credit for the progress that was made.

“Unsuccessful intervenors showed breathtaking hubris when they made alarmist accusations against the Department of Justice, and yet claimed credit for the very relief that the Department actively pursued in the complaint,” Dhillon said.

Dhillon added that officials were satisfied with the state’s recent efforts and expected continued improvements to the voter rolls in the months ahead.

State Election Officials Highlight Progress

Sam Hayes, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said compliance with federal law had been a priority even before the federal complaint. He credited staff across the state for their work.

“Even before the U.S. Department of Justice filed this lawsuit, I had made it a priority to come into compliance with the Help America Vote Act and ensure that all individuals on our voter rolls are properly registered,” Hayes said.

Hayes added that in less than three months, the number of voters needing repairs to their registrations was reduced by 22 percent. He praised the work of 100 county boards of elections and the state staff for their efforts.

Broader Federal Push For Election Integrity

The North Carolina settlement came as part of a wider administration initiative. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”

In May, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched a new feature designed to strengthen oversight of voter registration systems. These actions reflected the administration’s ongoing push to monitor election processes nationwide.

The Justice Department also pursued cases in other areas. In June, prosecutors sued Orange County, California, for failing to provide records related to removing noncitizens from its voter rolls.

Settlement Marks End Of Legal Dispute

For North Carolina, the resolution means the lawsuit is closed, but oversight will likely continue as federal officials monitor progress. The administration made clear that similar enforcement could be expected elsewhere if problems are not addressed.

Dhillon emphasized that the agreement represented a constructive step toward reliable elections. Hayes stressed that state officials would continue their work to ensure voter rolls are accurate heading into future contests.

With the settlement now in place, both federal and state leaders framed the outcome as a sign of progress in balancing federal requirements with local election management in one of the nation’s most closely watched states.