North Carolina Removes 34,000 Deceased Voters from Registration Rolls

The North Carolina State Board of Elections has removed approximately 34,000 voter registrations belonging to deceased individuals as part of ongoing efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls.

The cleanup followed a routine records check conducted on April 17, when nearly 7.4 million records were submitted through the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database.

“While we expected to find some cases, this is higher than we anticipated,” said Executive Director Sam Hayes. “The benefit of entering into cross-state and federal database checks is that it allows us to uncover issues like this. Our goal is to use every available and legal tool at our disposal to achieve the most accurate voter rolls possible.”

Hayes added that officials will continue verifying voter eligibility through coordination with state and federal partners.

The update comes after changes in 2024 shifted oversight of the State Board of Elections to the state auditor. Auditor Dave Boliek said maintaining accurate voter rolls is a key part of election integrity, noting the board’s efforts as a positive step.

Officials emphasized that the presence of deceased individuals on voter rolls does not indicate that votes were cast in their names, despite common misconceptions. Instead, the findings highlight the importance of regular database updates and coordination between agencies.

The State Board of Elections receives weekly updates from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding deaths. The SAVE database cross-references voter information, including name, date of birth, and partial Social Security number, with federal records. This process also helps identify voters who may have moved or died outside of North Carolina.

State officials say the effort will continue as part of maintaining accurate and secure voter registration records.