North Carolina - Protections for Elections Flyer

1865

Law Enacted

$250K

Max Fine

5 YRS

Prison

ZERO

Exceptions

The Federal Law

Since 1865, federal law has banned armed federal personnel at polling places. In 1909, Congress deliberately removed the only exception — there is no law enforcement justification for armed feds at the polls. Not for "keeping the peace." Not for preventing fraud. Nothing.

18 U.S.C. § 592 — TROOPS AT POLLS

Any federal employee who stations armed personnel at a polling place commits a felony and is permanently barred from federal service. The DOJ's own manual says FBI agents cannot be stationed at polls.

5 YEARS PRISON $250,000 FINE CAREER DEATH

North Carolina Legal Landscape

Home Rule

North Carolina is a Dillon's Rule state, meaning municipalities possess only those powers expressly granted by the Ge...

Key Advantage

The state uniquely uses a Board model rather than a Secretary of State for elections, with the NC State Board of Elections (NCSBE) operating under a 5-member bipartisan structur...

Key Risk

<div class="state-header-card" data-tier="red"> <div class="state-header-tier">Tier 3 — Significant Barriers</div> <div class="state-header-stats"> <div class="state-stat"><span...

Best Framing

While municipalities have general police power under N.C.G.S.

Anti-Sanctuary Law

✓ Anti-sanctuary laws: North Carolina enacted HB 318 (2015), which prohibits local government policies that restrict compliance with federal immigration

Target Cities in North Carolina

Durham

Pop. 307K • Mayor-Council

Target city. See state guide for details.

Chapel Hill

Pop. 63K • Mayor-Council

Target city. See state guide for details.

Asheville

Pop. 95K • Mayor-Council

Target city. See state guide for details.

What You Can Do Right Now

Contact Call your city council member. Ask them to introduce a Protections for Elections ordinance.

Show Up Attend your next council meeting. 3 minutes of public comment changes priorities.

Connect Join a local organization already working on voting rights in North Carolina.

Share Give this to 3 people. Post it at your library, café, or community board.

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