Higher rate of deficiencies reported in absentee ballots cast by Black voters in NC
As the election approaches, there have been concerns about racial disparities in absentee ballot deficiency rates. The North Carolina State Board of Elections reports that 3.5 percent of non-Hispanic Black voters and 2.6 percent of Hispanic voters have had their ballots deemed deficient, compared to one percent of non-Hispanic white voters. “I’m sure there are consequences of historical, systemic oppression that sort of plays into that as well in terms of just access to the ballots and familiarity with election procedures,” said Jeff Loperfido, senior counsel for voting rights at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice Voters can track the status of their mail-in ballots using BallotTrax.
