--- title: "NC Elections Board votes against Sunday early voting in some counties" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-22T04:46:25.360Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T20:30:00.000Z" updated: "2026-08-22T04:46:25.360Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-22T07:00:54.614481+00:00" --- # NC Elections Board votes against Sunday early voting in some counties *State board decisions largely aligned with Republican majorities on local election boards.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies and specific dates provided, but relies on anonymous sourcing for some details. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports include quotes from affected parties and explain the context and implications of the decisions. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and proportionate, with headlines accurately reflecting the article content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted on early-voting schedules for 20 counties. - Decisions in Columbus and Scotland counties, among others, opted against Sunday voting. - The state board's rulings largely supported the positions of Republican majorities on local election boards. - Critics argue the state is attempting to reduce Sunday voting, a practice supported by some for increased accessibility. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has made decisions regarding early-voting schedules for 20 counties. In Columbus and Scotland counties, the board voted against allowing Sunday voting. These decisions generally aligned with the preferences of Republican majorities on the local election boards. Some Democrats and voting-rights advocates have voiced concerns, suggesting these actions are part of an effort to decrease Sunday voting opportunities. Supporters of Sunday voting highlight its importance for providing additional voting options, particularly for those who work throughout the week. Conversely, critics of Sunday voting have cited religious objections. ## Disagreement on Sunday voting In Columbus County, the state board decided against Sunday voting, though it approved five early-voting sites as requested by local Democrats. Local Republicans had proposed four sites with no Sunday voting, while Democrats had advocated for five sites including a Sunday. In Scotland County, local Democrats argued that Sunday voting is needed for residents who work six days a week and have repeatedly requested it. However, the local board chair, citing staffing needs, stated Sunday voting was not feasible. The state board's decision for Scotland County also did not include Sunday voting. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or unrated reports mention the specific claims made by critics of Sunday voting regarding religious objections. ## Who covered it Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 36% (5) - Centre: 64% (9) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-22T07:00:54.614481+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-22T07:15:24.757Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports highlighted that the state board's decisions largely sided with Republican majorities on local election boards. The Border Belt Independent noted that the state board nixed Sunday voting in Columbus and Scotland counties. Carolina Public Press reported the state board mostly backed fewer Sundays and more Saturdays in early voting plans, and mentioned increasing evidence of auditor staff interference. TheGrio focused on proposed changes in 20 counties that would eliminate Sunday voting and alter Saturday hours or remove early-voting locations, sparking concerns over the impact on Black voters. Lodinews.com stated that the state board rejected most Sunday voting and campus sites in disputed counties. Reflector reported the state board kept a Simpson early voting site but said no to Sunday voting. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports indicated that the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted along party lines to reject most Sunday early voting hours, as reported by Morgan County Citizen. Enlace Latino noted the state board approved amendments to early voting plans in 20 counties where local boards failed to reach unanimous agreement. The Daily Advance and abc11 Raleigh reported that there would be no Sunday early voting in Pasquotank County and that some NC counties would drop Sunday voting under approved plans, respectively. Salisbury Post mentioned the state board approved a 14-day early voting compromise for Rowan County. Fox8, WNCT, and CBS 17 reported that the state board met to decide on early voting plans in 20 counties where they were not yet finalized for the November elections. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 9 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [statehousenews.com](https://statehousenews.com/news/features/roundup/weekly-roundup-getting-the-early-vote/article_b41d6527-5b87-42d0-9d02-29354b35a238.html) — Weekly Roundup: Getting The (Early) Vote - [Enlace Latino](https://enlacelatinonc.org/elecciones-carolina-del-norte-2026-junta-estatal-aprueba-cambios-en-votacion-anticipada-en-20-condados) — North Carolina Elections 2026: State Board Approves Changes in Early Voting in 20 Counties · Global Voices - [columbuscountynews.com](https://columbuscountynews.com/2026/08/county-election-schedules-set) — County Election Schedules Set - [The Daily Advance](https://dailyadvance.com/news/local/pasquotank-early-voting-to-be-held-at-elections-office/article_a113e8ab-4c82-4c49-b780-4d419862fdf5.html) — Pasquotank early voting to be held at elections office - [Carolina Public Press](https://carolinapublicpress.org/80414/nc-election-board-decides-early-voting-plans-for-20-counties-mostly-siding-with-gop) — NC Elections Board decides early voting plans for 20 counties, mostly siding with GOP - [Border Belt Independent](https://borderbelt.org/nc-elections-board-limits-sunday-voting) — State Elections Board Nixes Sunday Voting in Columbus and Scotland Counties - [Reflector](https://reflector.com/news/local/state-board-keeps-simpson-early-voting-site-says-no-to-sunday-voting/article_b7b7169c-fbeb-461d-b935-e8b910691190.html) — State board keeps Simpson early voting site, says no to Sunday voting - [abc11 Raleigh](https://abc11.com/post/nc-elections-board-approves-early-voting-plans-county-disputes/19711362) — Some NC counties drop Sunday voting under approved plans - [Morgan County Citizen](https://morgancountycitizen.com/news/national/nc-board-of-elections-votes-along-party-lines-to-reject-most-sunday-early-voting-hours/article_f36a0035-0771-50f0-805e-3a175db6b540.html) — NC Board of Elections votes along party lines to reject most Sunday early voting hours - [THE RANT](https://rantnc.com/2026/08/20/state-board-adopts-lee-early-voting-plan-keeps-sunday) — State board adopts Lee early voting plan, keeps Sunday - [Salisbury Post](https://salisburypost.com/2026/08/20/n-c-election-board-approves-14-day-rowan-early-voting-compromise) — N.C. Election Board approves 14-day Rowan early voting compromise - [Lodinews.com](https://lodinews.com/news/national/article_19ed5af5-5d73-5836-87a9-d9d076d04a26.html) — NC elections board rejects most Sunday voting, campus sites in disputed counties - [Hanford Sentinel](https://hanfordsentinel.com/news/national/nc-elections-board-rejects-most-sunday-voting-campus-sites-in-disputed-counties/article_d88a08a6-bdc1-508c-90e8-7dd284593a96.html) — NC elections board rejects most Sunday voting, campus sites in disputed counties - [Fox8](https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/nc-board-of-elections-decides-fates-of-early-voting-in-20-disputed-counties) — NC Board of Elections decides fates of early voting in 20 disputed counties - [WNCT](https://wnct.com/news/nc-board-of-elections-decides-fates-of-early-voting-in-20-disputed-counties) — NC Board of Elections decides fates of early voting in 20 disputed counties - [CBS 17](https://cbs17.com/news/capitol-report/nc-board-of-elections-decides-fates-of-early-voting-in-20-disputed-counties) — NC Board of Elections decides fates of early voting in 20 disputed counties - [theGrio](https://thegrio.com/2026/08/20/north-carolina-early-voting-racial-targeting-allegations) — North Carolina early voting changes spark concerns over impact on Black voters ## Questions **What did the North Carolina State Board of Elections decide regarding early voting?** The board voted on early-voting schedules for 20 counties, opting against Sunday voting in some, including Columbus and Scotland counties. These decisions largely aligned with Republican majorities on local election boards. **Why are some people concerned about the decisions on Sunday voting?** Democrats and voting-rights advocates argue the state is trying to reduce Sunday voting opportunities. Supporters of Sunday voting emphasize its importance for providing more access to the ballot box, especially for those with weekday work schedules. **What were the arguments for and against Sunday voting in Columbus and Scotland counties?** In Columbus County, local Democrats wanted five early-voting sites including a Sunday, while Republicans proposed four sites without Sunday voting. In Scotland County, Democrats cited resident requests for Sunday voting, but the local board chair stated it was not feasible due to staffing needs. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "NC Elections Board votes against Sunday early voting in some counties", https://mediabias.news/politics/nc-elections-board-votes-against-sunday-early-voting-in-some-counties