ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina election officials are warning voters about a recent voter registration mailing that has caused confusion across the state and created extra work for county boards of elections.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections said it has received complaints from county election offices and residents about mailers sent by Ready to Register Inc. that contain outdated voter registration information.
According to the state board, the mailings include an old voter registration application listing political parties that are no longer officially recognized in North Carolina. For the 2026 election cycle, the state’s recognized political parties are Democratic, Green, Libertarian and Republican. Voters may also register as unaffiliated.
Election officials said anyone who selects a party that is no longer recognized will instead be registered as unaffiliated.
The State Board also said it has received reports that some of the mailers were sent to deceased individuals, suggesting the organization may be using outdated voter data.
In another issue, officials said mailings sent to voters in New Hanover County listed the wrong return address for the county board of elections, raising concerns that completed voter registration forms could be mailed to the wrong location.
The board has also received complaints about QR codes included in the mailers. Some voters reported that scanning the codes caused personal information belonging to other individuals to appear on registration forms, prompting privacy concerns.
“Bulk voter registration mailings, when done carelessly, can do more harm than good,” State Board Executive Director Sam Hayes said in a statement. “They can confuse voters and greatly increase the workload of county boards of elections. State Board staff are available to advise anyone who wishes to send voter registration mailings so that we can minimize potential issues.”
The State Board said it has contacted Ready to Register in hopes of preventing similar problems with future mailings.
Election officials also reminded voters that if they receive a registration mailing but are already registered at their current address, they do not need to take any action and may simply discard it.
Voters with questions about a mailing are encouraged to contact the organization that sent it. The State Board also recommends that residents periodically verify their registration status through the state’s online voter search tool or contact their county board of elections with any questions.
The regular voter registration deadline for North Carolina’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election is Oct. 9. Voters who miss that deadline can still register and vote during the state’s early voting period using same-day registration at any early voting site in their county.
