ICYMI: Pat McCrory: North Carolina’s Election Resilience a Model for the Nation

“North Carolina has once again proven itself to be a state where voters can trust the process and rely on the integrity of election outcomes.”

Charlotte, NC – In case you missed it, former Governor Pat McCrory, Chair of RightCount North Carolina, has an op-ed in today’s edition of the Winston-Salem Journal praising North Carolina’s election workers and administrators for a job well done. Election Day and the early voting period faced minimal problems, even in western North Carolina which faced significant infrastructure damage from Hurricane Helene. State and local election officials, benefiting from changes made by the Republican-controlled legislature and State Election Board, ensured residents could cast their ballots as they dealt with power outages, lack of water and washed-out roads. The North Carolina Board of Elections reported no voting issues on Election Day.

North Carolina’s Election Resilience a Model for the Nation

By Gov. Patrick McCrory
November 19, 2024

In an election season filled with high stakes and intense scrutiny, North Carolina has once again proven itself to be a state where voters can trust the process and rely on the integrity of election outcomes. Our state has faced unprecedented challenges this year, yet we have emerged stronger, with resilient citizens, dedicated election workers, and a steadfast State Board of Elections at the forefront.

Hurricane Helene devastated communities in the westernmost parts of our state. Entire neighborhoods were torn apart, and families lost homes, businesses, and much more. Yet, in a powerful show of resilience, the people of North Carolina did not let this disaster deter them from making their voices heard.

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Many deserve credit for making voting seamless, accessible, and secure.

The State Board of Elections took bipartisan action to make this process seamless and accessible. The General Assembly wisely granted election officials the authority to change voting sites to account for any locations that were destroyed or rendered unusable. The Board also voted unanimously to reassign and mobilize poll workers from other areas of the state to address personnel needs and allow affected voters to turn in their absentee ballots to any county board of elections office — not just the one in their home county.

The General Assembly was integral in building confidence in our election system by requiring ID to vote, paper ballots in all 100 counties, and banning any voting machines from being connected to the internet. This smooth implementation of these security measures is a testament to the thorough preparation and the hard work of our election workers.

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The success of this election highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to build public confidence in our voting system. Through transparency, security measures, and community engagement, North Carolina has become a model for election integrity. I am proud to be part of RightCount, an organization committed to upholding these standards, promoting election safeguards that foster trust and participation and recruiting civic leaders – veterans, small business owners, former election officers and even firefighters – to educate voters. I believe our high school students would benefit from our elections process being included in the curriculum.

RightCount remains dedicated to educating the public about election reforms that enhance transparency, strengthen security, and empower voters to believe in the system. Our goal is to ensure that every North Carolinian feels confident in the accuracy and fairness of our elections. Building on the hard work of this election cycle, we will continue to advance measures that secure our elections for generations to come.

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To read Governor McCrory’s op-ed in its entirety, click here.