34,000 Dead People Found on North Carolina’s Voter Rolls, State Officials Confirm
Reflecto News | U.S. Politics | Election Integrity
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina State Board of Elections has identified approximately 34,000 deceased individuals still listed on the state’s voter rolls following a comprehensive data comparison with a federal database, officials announced this week .
The discovery marks a significant finding in the state’s ongoing effort to verify the citizenship status of registered voters and clean up its registration lists ahead of the 2026 midterm elections .
🔍 How the Discovery Was Made
The State Board of Elections submitted 7,397,734 voter records to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database on April 17, 2026 . The SAVE system, managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), cross-checked voter information—including names, dates of birth, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers—against Social Security Administration records .
The comparison was primarily designed to identify non-citizens on the voter rolls, but it also uncovered other anomalies, including duplicate registrations, name mismatches, and deceased voters .
“While we expected to find some cases, this is higher than we anticipated.”
— Sam Hayes, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections
According to state officials, the figure of 34,000 includes North Carolina residents who died within the state as well as individuals who registered in North Carolina, later moved to another state, and died there .
✅ “No Evidence of Illegal Voting”—But Concerns Remain
State election officials were careful to note that the discovery of deceased individuals on voter rolls does not necessarily indicate that illegal votes were cast in their names . However, they acknowledged that the finding “does underscore the importance of regular updates” and “strong interagency coordination” .
North Carolina receives weekly death data from the state Department of Health and Human Services, which is processed at the county level to remove deceased voters. The SAVE database check revealed additional cases that had not been captured through routine in-state procedures .
The State Board of Elections said it will now work with county boards to verify records and remove deceased individuals from the voter rolls in accordance with state and federal law. The verification process will include cross-checking with additional state and federal databases before any removal occurs .
🏛️ Political Reactions and Calls for Reform
The discovery has prompted sharp reactions from Republican leaders and election integrity advocates, who are using the finding to renew calls for federal legislation.
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) called the discovery a “failure” and urged immediate action.
“North Carolina confirms 34,000 deceased individuals on our voter rolls. This isn’t a mistake—it’s a failure. Election integrity is non-negotiable. Fix it now. Pass the SAVE America Act!”
— Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.)
Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project Action, praised North Carolina for its proactive approach and expressed concern that other states—particularly Democratic-led states—are not conducting similar reviews.
“North Carolina is another example of a state doing the work to root out bad registrations using federal records like the SAVE system.”
— Jason Snead, Honest Elections Project Action
Republicans have pointed to the discovery as evidence of the need for the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which would require states to verify citizenship through federal databases and impose stricter voter roll maintenance requirements .
📊 Routine Maintenance, Not Evidence of Fraud
While the number is striking, election officials emphasize that regular voter roll maintenance—including the removal of deceased individuals—is a routine and necessary function under state and federal law . The discovery of deceased voters does not indicate systemic fraud but rather highlights the challenge of keeping registration lists current across overlapping jurisdictions .
State Auditor Dave Boliek, whose office appoints members to the State Board of Elections, praised the board’s transparency and efficiency.
“Voter roll maintenance is a core component of election integrity, and it starts with effective management. The State Board of Elections is leading on voter roll cleanup, getting work done quickly and efficiently.”
— State Auditor Dave Boliek
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Number of deceased found | Approximately 34,000 |
| How discovered | Cross-check of 7.3M voter records with federal SAVE database |
| Does this mean fraud? | No—election officials said it does not necessarily indicate illegal votes were cast |
| What happens next | State and county boards will verify records and remove deceased individuals |
| Political response | Republicans call for passage of the SAVE Act; praise NC’s proactive approach |
| Routine maintenance | Removing deceased voters is a standard, legally required process |
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