A group of North Carolina college students has filed a federal lawsuit after the Republican state’s election officials eliminated early voting sites at three university campuses, including North Carolina A&T State University, the largest HBCU in the United States.
The lawsuit, filed on January 27, challenges the decision by the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and local election boards to remove on‑campus early voting locations ahead of the state’s March 2026 primary.
In a 3‑2 party‑line vote earlier this month, the Republican‑controlled NCSBE rejected proposed early voting sites at Western Carolina University (WCU), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC‑G), and NC A&T State University, which serves more than 15,000 students.
For multiple election cycles, these campuses had hosted early voting sites that gave students convenient access to cast their ballots and take advantage of same‑day registration, a provision available only during early voting periods.
In their complaint, the students and the College Democrats of North Carolina argue that eliminating on‑campus voting imposes unnecessary burdens on young voters, many of whom lack reliable transportation, are unfamiliar with off‑campus locations, or balance demanding academic and work schedules.
The lawsuit asserts that long distances to the nearest polling sites, sometimes nearly two miles away from campus, with limited or no public transit, will make it harder for students to participate in elections. In many cases, students would have to walk along highways without sidewalks just to reach their polling place.
“Young voters across these campuses now face higher hurdles to exercise a right that remains foundational to American democracy,” the complaint states.
The plaintiffs argue that removing these early voting sites violates several constitutional protections, including the First and Fourteenth Amendments by placing an undue burden on the right to vote, as well as the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which prohibits restricting voting rights based on age.
The lawsuit also emphasizes that eliminating campus polling locations disproportionately impacts young and Black voters, particularly at NC A&T, the nation’s largest HBCU, which serves students from across North Carolina and beyond.
Since Republicans gained control of the State Board of Elections in 2025, the board has moved to tighten voting rules and reject localized plans that would have maintained or expanded voting opportunities.
Local election boards in Guilford and Jackson counties also voted to eliminate on‑campus polling locations, citing resource allocation and turnout data. Critics, however, argue that these cuts are part of a pattern that could suppress voter participation among students and other communities with limited transportation options.
While the lawsuit seeks a court order to restore early voting sites for the upcoming primary, students on affected campuses are organizing in other ways too. At NC A&T, students launched an initiative called “Protect Ours” to transport fellow Panthers to polling sites after the removal of the campus location.
With early voting set to begin in February for the March 3 primary, courts may be asked to balance state election administration powers with constitutional protections for voters, particularly young voters exercising their rights for the first time.
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