A 36-page elections omnibus bill, House Bill 958, has been advanced in North Carolina, with changes to ballot counting deadlines, ranked choice voting, and the auditor’s involvement in elections. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, has undergone several changes, including the addition of 12 pages to the last version presented in July 2025.

Changes to Ballot Counting Deadlines

The bill loosens certain deadlines that were tightened in a 2024 law, allowing county election boards to count absentee and provisional ballots until the fifth business day after Election Day. This change is expected to be “tremendously helpful” for counties, according to Guilford County Election Director Charlie Collicut.

Additionally, the bill would bar county and state election board members from “encouraging or promoting voter turnout in any election,” a provision that has been met with criticism from some election activists. The bill also outlines the voter challenge process when the federal Systemic Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system identifies potential noncitizens or other ineligible voters.

Reaction to the Bill

Protesters gathered outside the legislative building, with some calling the bill a “voter suppression bill.” Election integrity activist Jay DeLancy expressed excitement about some parts of the bill but was not satisfied with others. North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton stated that the deadline change only fixed a problem lawmakers created for themselves.

Original reporting: Carolina Public Press — read the source article.