N.C. Ballot Access Bill Clears Senate Panel With Changes

Consensus legislation designed to help North Carolina voters worried about COVID-19 gain access to absentee ballots received some changes before clearing a state Senate panel. The Senate elections committee on Tuesday approved the measure that retained all of the provisions included in the legislation when the House voted for it overwhelmingly last week. The bill in part expands options for registered voters to receive absentee ballot request forms, including the creation of an online portal for submissions. The committee also approved an amendment that its sponsor says will help investigate attempts at potential ballot fraud and harvesting using the portal.