NC campus early voting lawsuit raises questions about student voter access ahead of the 2026 primary election
GREENSBORO, N.C. – College students in North Carolina are challenging state and county election officials in federal court, arguing that recent decisions about early voting locations unfairly restrict student access to the ballot ahead of the 2026 primary.
The lawsuit was filed by the College Democrats of North Carolina along with student plaintiffs enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, UNC Greensboro, and Western Carolina University.
The defendants include the North Carolina State Board of Elections, as well as local election boards in Guilford and Jackson counties.
Students Say Early Voting Decisions Target Younger Voters
According to the complaint, state and county election officials adopted early voting plans that limit or eliminate polling locations on college campuses, which the plaintiffs argue places a disproportionate burden on student voters based on age.
The lawsuit contends that officials were warned in advance that removing campus voting sites would make it harder for students — particularly those without access to cars — to vote, yet those concerns were not acted on.
HBCU and Black Voter Impact Central to Claims
The filing highlights that North Carolina A&T is the largest historically Black college or university in the United States, and argues that denying an early voting site there has a disproportionate impact on Black voters.
It also states that the early voting site previously located at Western Carolina University served more Black voters in the 2024 election than any other polling location in Jackson County, making its removal a key issue in the matter.
READ FULL LAWSUIT BELOW:
Loading...
Campus Sites Removed or Rejected in January Vote
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab During a January 2025 meeting to approve early voting plans, the State Board of Elections voted to remove early voting locations at Western Carolina University and Elon University. The board also declined to consider proposals that would have added early voting sites at North Carolina A&T and UNC-Greensboro.
Students from A&T attended the meeting to protest the decision but were not permitted to address the board.
Transportation Barriers Raised by Western Carolina Students
As a result of the changes, Western Carolina students without personal transportation must now travel nearly two miles to reach the nearest early voting site. Portions of the route require walking alongside a four-lane highway, according to the lawsuit.
Jackson County Elections Board Chairman Bill Thompson opposed the campus voting site, citing parking challenges on campus and questioning the need for two early voting locations in close proximity.
Officials Defend Plan as Consistent With Prior Elections
Members of the Guilford County Elections Board submitted a statement supporting the early voting plan, saying it largely aligns with primary election plans used between 2010 and 2022. While two additional early voting sites were added in the county, neither is located on a college campus.
State Board Chairman Francis De Luca has publicly stated that he does not favor campus voting locations, citing parking concerns.
State elections board spokesperson Pat Gannon said the board does not comment on pending litigation.
Early Voting Schedule Remains in Place
Early voting for North Carolina’s 2026 primary is scheduled to begin February 12 and end February 28.
