NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-85 (2026)

Challenge procedure other than on day of primary or election

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) Right to Challenge; When Challenge May Be Made. - Any registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain registered or vote in such county. No such challenge may be made after the twenty-fifth day before each primary, general, or special election.

(b) Challenges Shall Be Made to the County Board of Elections. - Each challenge shall be made separately, in writing, under oath and on forms prescribed by the State Board of Elections, and shall specify the reasons why the challenged voter is not entitled to register, remain registered, or vote. When a challenge is made, the board of elections shall cause the word "challenged" to be written in pencil on the registration records of the voter challenged. The challenge shall be signed by the challenger and shall set forth the challenger's address.

(1) That a person is not a resident of the State of North Carolina, or

(2) That a person is not a resident of the county in which the person is registered, provided that no such challenge may be made if the person removed his residency and the period of removal has been less than 30 days, or

(3) That a person is not a resident of the precinct in which the person is registered, provided that no such challenge may be made if the person removed his residency and the period of removal has been less than 30 days, or

(4) That a person is not 18 years of age, or if the challenge is made within 60 days before a primary, that the person will not be 18 years of age by the next general election, or

(5) That a person has been adjudged guilty of a felony and is ineligible to vote under G.S. 163-55(2), or

(6) That a person is dead, or

(7) That a person is not a citizen of the United States, or

(8) With respect to municipal registration only, that a person is not a resident of the municipality in which the person is registered, or

(9) That the person is not who he or she represents himself or herself to be.

(d) Preliminary Hearing. - When a challenge is made, the county board of election shall schedule a preliminary hearing on the challenge, and shall take such testimony under oath and receive such other evidence proffered by the challenger as may be offered. The burden of proof shall be on the challenger, and if no testimony is presented, the board shall dismiss the challenge. If the challenger presents evidence and if the board finds that probable cause exists that the person challenged is not qualified to vote, then the board shall schedule a hearing on the challenge.

(e) Prima Facie Evidence That Voter No Longer Resides in Precinct. - The presentation of a letter mailed by returnable first-class mail to the voter at the address listed on the voter registration card and returned because the person does not live at the address shall constitute prima facie evidence that the person no longer resides in the precinct. (1901, c. 89, s. 19; Rev., s. 4339; C.S., s. 5972; 1953, c. 843; 1955, c. 800; 1963, c. 303, s. 1; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1973, c. 793, s. 34; 1979, c. 357, s. 1; 1985, c. 563, ss. 11-11.2, 11.5; c. 589, s. 60; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 762, s. 25; 2009-526, s. 1.2; 2009-541, s. 16.1(a); 2009-550, s. 11; 2010-96, s. 18; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1951–2017 · leading case: N.C. State Conf. of the NAACP v. N.C. State Bd. of Elections, 283 F. Supp. 3d 393 (M.D.N.C. 2017).

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N.C. State Conf. of the NAACP v. N.C. State Bd. of Elections, 283 F. Supp. 3d 393 (M.D.N.C. 2017). · cites it 16× “The injunction ordered, among other things, that (1) Defendants shall "restore the voter registrations that were canceled during the 90-day period preceding the November 8, 2016" general election "through application of the challenge procedure set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§…”

Knight v. Higgs, 659 S.E.2d 742 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “§ 163-86 (2005), it is the County Board of Elections that hears voter registration challenges made pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-85 (2005). The Board, not its attorney, is the decision-making body.”

Lloyd v. Babb, 251 S.E.2d 843 (N.C. 1979). “G.S. 163-85(a) states that other than on the day of a primary or general election “[a]ny registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain registered or vote in the county.”

Farnsworth v. Jones, 441 S.E.2d 597 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “Jones was a qualified candidate in the election because he was not legally registered to vote in Ward 5 as required by statute. In North Carolina, in order to be qualified as a candidate for election to a municipal office, a person must be registered to vote in the municipality.”

State ex rel. Freeman v. Ponder, 67 S.E.2d 292 (N.C. 1951). “Davis reserved exceptions to the admission of these writings : (1) The returns made by the registrars and judges of election in obedience to G.S. 163-85 stating the votes cast for the candidates for the office of Sheriff in the twenty-four precincts of Madison County; (2) the…”

Hurow v. Miller, 262 S.E.2d 287 (N.C. Ct. App. 1980). · cites it 2× “G.S. 163-85(a) provides that, “Any registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain registered, or vote in the county.”

James v. Bartlett, 607 S.E.2d 638 (2005). “§ 163-87 (2003) (providing that on the day of a primary or election, at the time a registered voter offers to vote, any other registered voter of that precinct may challenge); N.”

Strickland v. Hill, 116 S.E.2d 463 (N.C. 1960). “judges of each precinct to the County Board were made in the manner prescribed by statute (G.S. 163-85; G.S. 163-84, as amended by .”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-85(a) — 2 cases

Hurow v. Miller, 262 S.E.2d 287 (N.C. Ct. App. 1980). “G.S. 163-85(a) provides that, “Any registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain registered, or vote in the county.”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-85(c)(3) — 1 case

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