RALEIGH — The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has agreed to take actions to protect voter registration integrity, according to a Dec. 2 press release from Western District of North Carolina’s U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.
“It is vitally important that our elections in North Carolina are accurate, fair, and irreproachable — and that the public has confidence in them — to protect the foundation of our democracy,” said Ferguson. “We must ensure that our voter rolls are precise and do not include minors, felons, or illegal aliens.
“The DMV, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of voter registrations in a given year, plays a central role in that process. We appreciate the agency’s cooperation to improve processes so that only eligible voters are added to the rolls.”
Ferguson had engaged the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) in July after a Department of Homeland Security investigations report indicated illegal aliens were being registered to vote, sometimes without the individual’s knowledge. The NCDMV initially blamed a “system glitch,” and an investigation found the registrations occurred due to errors by NCDMV examiners.
During a legislative oversight hearing in 2024, former NCDMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin also claimed a glitch as the cause for improper license renewals for more than 2,100 customers.
According to Ferguson’s press release, the NCDMV has agreed to make several changes to its processes, including reminding NCDMV examiners of proper protocols for voter registration through the agency, new training modules for examiners, modernizing NCDMV technology to reduce errors and hiring additional staff to bolster data accuracy.
Additionally, the NCDMV has agreed to “actively pursuing a technical solution” to use citizenship checks in the agency’s online and kiosk voter registration systems.
Ferguson’s statement also said the NCDMV is “coordinating with the State Board of Elections to ensure that any ineligible individuals identified by the federal government have been removed from voter rolls.”
That coordination appears to still be ongoing based on a recent press release from State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and letter from Executive Director Sam Hayes to NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine.
“The State Board of Elections continues to seek a strengthened data-sharing program between our agencies, including access to full Social Security numbers for registered voters who are also NCDMV customers,” wrote Hayes. “This information is essential for precise matching against other government databases and for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our voter lists.”
Hayes’ Dec. 4 letter to Tine says NCDMV still has yet to respond to Hayes’ Sept. 29 request for access to Social Security data to identify noncitizen voter registrations.
“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.
“Full Social Security numbers would significantly improve our ability to remove deceased voters and individuals with disqualifying felony convictions, identify duplicate registrations, and determine whether any non-U.S. citizens have been added, mistakenly or otherwise, to the rolls.”
Hayes’ second letter to Tine also mentions the NCSBE approved using the SAVE system at its Nov. 25 meeting and the concerns raised by Ferguson, as well as reminding Tine of federal voting law.
“Federal law is clear. Section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires election officials and motor vehicle agencies to enter into data-sharing agreements as needed to verify the accuracy of voter registration information,” Hayes stated in the letter. “Our request aligns with these requirements and reflects longstanding best practices across the country.”
In response to a request for comment, NCDMV Communications Director Marty Homan wrote in an email, “We’re aware of the letter and will respond in the near term.”
“We take our role in the voter registration process seriously and will continue to assist the State Board of Elections in fulfilling its mission to administer fair and accurate elections in North Carolina,” wrote Homan.
