(The Center Square) – Pursuant to federal law, North Carolina’s executive director in the State Board of Elections is asking the Stein administration for cooperation on voter registration data.
Paul Tine has been asked for a second time by Sam Hayes for access to full Social Security numbers for registered voters who are also customers of the state Division of Motor Vehicles. Tine is commissioner in the administration of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein; Hayes is executive director of the Republican majority state board under the oversight of first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek.
The first request was Sept. 29. Hayes’ most recent letter was dated Thursday, just 39 days from the start of absentee by mail voting for the primaries and 66 days since his first notification.
The Help America Vote Act of 2002, in Section 303, says election officials and state motor vehicle agencies are to cooperate in the verification of voter registration data accuracy. The election board on Nov. 25 began intent with U.S. Department of Homeland Security to use the SAVE database of the federal government.
SAVE is an acronym for Systematic Alien Verification Entitlements. If finalized, the state board would be able to verify citizenship status in limited circumstances it says is consistent with state and federal law.
“We understand that the data-sharing request is undergoing legal review within NCDMV,” Hayes wrote. “However, two months have now passed since my initial request. As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, timely cooperation is critical.”
Filing is underway for the midterms and closes Dec. 19. Absentee voting for the Super Tuesday primaries of March 3 begins Jan. 12; the voter registration deadline is Feb. 6; and early in-person voting is Feb. 12-28.
