In response to a recent lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department, North Carolina election officials will send mailers to approximately 200,000 voters to collect missing information from their registration records.

The State Board of Elections voted unanimously to reach out to voters lacking a driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, ensuring compliance with federal law.

The Justice Department's lawsuit claims that the state violated federal law by failing to collect these identifying details, prompting the board to establish a method for gathering this information.

Sam Hayes, the new executive director of the board, indicated that the Justice Department has tentatively approved a plan to send up to three mailers, each including a prepaid return envelope for voters.

The estimated cost for the first two mailers is projected to be between $300,000 and $450,000, highlighting the financial implications of this outreach effort.

While Republican board members supported the initiative as a necessary step for accurate voter registration, Democratic board member Jeff Carmon expressed concerns about the potential burden on voters.

This legal action coincided with a significant political shift, as Republicans gained control of the state elections board through legislation passed in late 2024.

The previous board had acknowledged the issue but chose not to proactively request the information, citing existing voter ID laws.

Hayes emphasized that the goal of this initiative is to efficiently gather the required information to comply with federal law and resolve ongoing litigation.

This outreach effort addresses concerns raised by Republicans during a legal battle over a state Supreme Court seat and the recent lawsuit from the Justice Department.

Voters will receive up to three mailers, each containing a self-addressed, postage-prepaid envelope for returning the necessary information.

Approximately half of the affected voters will only be able to cast provisional ballots until they provide the necessary identification information to the state.