North Carolina is set to become the first state to distribute mail ballots for this year’s midterm elections, with the first wave slated for Friday. The move comes despite a flurry of litigation challenging President Trump’s executive order that seeks to limit mail voting and amid worries that recent changes at the United States Postal Service are causing a rise in rejected ballots.

State officials stay the course

State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes told reporters in Raleigh that the board is “well positioned” to run a secure election, even if the new limits are eventually enforced. “Business as usual, as far as I’m concerned,” Hayes added, emphasizing that the board will continue to mail ballots as scheduled while monitoring court developments.

Legal challenges and Supreme Court action

President Trump signed the executive order in March, requiring states to submit voter eligibility lists through an online portal that remains inactive and mandating new envelope standards with barcodes. Multiple lawsuits have blocked the order, but the U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a procedural ruling in the administration’s favor without addressing the merits. The Trump administration has also appealed a separate ruling to the high court.

Local election officials reassure voters

Election officials warn that headlines about the order and the court battles have already confused some voters. “The biggest part of this is that it has sparked questions about what it is. What does this mean? Can I not vote by mail anymore?” said Michael Dickerson, director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. He assured residents that mail voting remains a “safe and secure process.”

In Wake County, elections staff are busy processing absentee requests, coding ballots, and conducting pre‑election accuracy tests. Olivia McCall, the county’s director of elections, said about 5,000 ballots will be mailed in the first wave. The county is also preparing to handle rapid returns, especially from military and overseas voters who can use an online portal.

Concerns over Postal Service changes

Beyond the Trump order, officials point to recent Postal Service operational changes as a factor in a spike of rejected mail ballots nationwide. The shift to postmarking mail at distant processing centers rather than local post offices has led to timing mismatches, causing some ballots to be rejected for late postmarks. States such as California, Wisconsin, and Washington have reported significant increases in rejected mail ballots during recent primaries.

The Postal Service acknowledges the issue, noting that adjustments to transportation operations can affect postmark dates. Voters are advised they can request a manual postmark at their local post office to avoid rejection.

Other states preparing to mail ballots

Following North Carolina’s lead, Alabama will begin mailing ballots on September 9, and by mid‑month all states must send ballots to military and overseas voters. Election‑policy expert David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, warned that the window for major election changes has long passed, emphasizing that the current mail‑ballot rollout underscores the need to preserve existing voting methods.

Despite the legal uncertainty, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina continues to urge voters to complete and return their absentee ballots promptly, reminding them that ballots postmarked by Election Day can still be counted even if they arrive later.

What voters should do

Voters in North Carolina should watch for mailings from their county election office, follow the instructions inside the ballot packet, and return their completed ballot as quickly as possible—by mail or hand‑delivery. Those with concerns about postmark dates can request a manual postmark at a local post office.

As the midterm season ramps up, state officials remain confident that North Carolina can conduct a fair and orderly election, even as the Trump administration’s push to tighten mail voting rules faces continued legal scrutiny.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.