Mythbuster Archive
Listen to Reality, Not Rumors
The State Board of Elections started “Mythbuster Monday,” a social media series focused on debunking popular myths in North Carolina elections and elections at large. Misinformation can lead to confusion and damage the public’s trust in elections. Through these posts, we aim to educate the public and serve as a trusted source of election information.
We will update this page as new posts are published. To view these and much more, follow the State Board on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Have a Question You’d Like Answered or a Myth You Want to Be Debunked?
Email the State Board at misinformation@ncsbe.gov. For more regarding the effort to stop the spread of mis- and disinformation, visit Combating Misinformation.
Mythbuster Monday Posts
Jan. 10, 2022
Reality: NC National Guard and @NCSBE cybersecurity teams investigated the claims, determining they were false and likely fabricated.
Rumor: Bad actors infiltrated county boards of elections’ networks and changed votes in 2020.
Jan. 4, 2022
Reality: In NC, provisional voters receive a Provisional Identification Number (PIN). The voter can use this, along with their date of birth, to check their ballot status.
Myth: Once you cast a provisional ballot, there’s no way to track it.
Dec. 27, 2021
Reality: Many military and overseas voters, as well as provisional voters, would not have their vote counted if counting stopped altogether on election night.
Rumor: Votes should stop being counted on election night.
Dec. 20, 2021
Reality: Under state law, all voting systems used in North Carolina must use paper ballots, producing a paper trail that can be recounted and audited.
Rumor: N.C. does not use paper ballots.
Dec. 6, 2021
Reality: All offices have candidate requirements. For more information, visit the State Board website: General Candidate Requirements.
Rumor: Any person may file for candidacy in North Carolina.
Nov. 29, 2021
Reality: In North Carolina, ballots cast during the early voting period are considered “absentee in person.” Learn more: Your Voter Record.
Rumor: In-person early voting is incorrectly showing up on my voter record as “absentee.”
Nov. 22, 2021
Reality: An “inactive” registrant is still a registered voter. An “inactive” voter may vote in an election, thus removing their inactive status.
Rumor: If a voter is inactive, they may not vote.
Nov. 15, 2021
Reality: There is no evidence of any manipulation of N.C. elections systems. Security precautions are in place, and audits and recounts demonstrate accurate results.
Rumor: The election management system is easily manipulated.
Nov. 1, 2021
Reality: In the U.S. all votes are counted, regardless of method — no matter how close the race.
Rumor: Absentee votes are only counted if a race is close.
Oct. 18, 2021
Reality: Media, political parties and candidates sometimes “call” winners on election night. Election officials never “call” winners, but rather certify results after all ballots are counted, audits conducted, etc.
Rumor: The State Board “calls” elections.
Oct. 11, 2021
Reality: To produce a paper trail that can be recounted and audited, all N.C. voting systems use paper ballots, marked either by hand or with a ballot-marking device.
Rumor: There’s no way to prove N.C. voting systems tabulated voters’ choices correctly.
Oct. 4, 2021
Reality: To register, you must have resided in that municipality or county for at least 30 days before the election.
Rumor: If I own a property in or pay property tax to a municipality or county, I can register to vote there without establishing it as my permanent residence.
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