Green v. Bell
Case Summary
Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, alleging the Board was violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by failing to purge ineligible voters from the state’s voter rolls. The League of Women Voters of North Carolina moved to intervene on behalf of voters to prevent an unjustified purge of eligible voters.
On September 17, 2021, two plaintiffs filed suit against the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCBE) in her official capacity, alleging she was violating the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by failing to purge ineligible voters from the state’s voter rolls. The plaintiffs asked the court to order the State Board of Elections to purge ineligible and deceased voters and develop new programs to ensure ineligible persons would not be included on the voter registration rolls.
Lawsuits such as this one have become a common voter suppression tactic.
On November 12, 2021, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and the North Carolina A. Phillip Randolph Institute moved to intervene as defendants in the case. The League argued the proposed purge would impair voter registration efforts and force them to re-register and educate voters. The League also argued the plaintiffs’ lawsuit was based upon faulty data analysis and that the proposed purge was not required under the NVRA.
The League is represented by the Southern Coalition for Social Justice and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP.
LWV Timeline
Plaintiffs file complaint
Plaintiffs file their complaint, asserting the NCBE violated the NVRA by failing to purge ineligible and deceased voters from the voter rolls in several dozen North Carolina counties.
LWV North Carolina moves to intervene
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina and the North Carolina A. Phillip Randolph Institute move to intervene as defendants in the case, arguing the proposed purge would impair their voter registration efforts in the state.
NCBE files motion to dismiss
The defendant files Motion to Dismiss, asserting the plaintiffs failed to provide the notice required by the NVRA before suing, had no standing to sue, and that the alleged violations of the NVRA were not a claim for which relief could be granted.
Court denies motion to dismiss and motion to intervene
The court denies the Executive Director of the NCSBE's motion to dismiss as well as LWV North Carolina's motion to intervene.