October 27, 2026
“Spoiled” Ballots and Early Voting – Call to Action
Hello Indivisible Citizens of Catawba Valley,
It’s another Take Action Tuesday from the ICCV Legislative Committee. Did you vote yet? If not, make a plan and go vote! Election Day is 1 week from today!
If you’ve already voted, thank you! Now - please reach out to at least 3 friends or family members who may not have done so and remind them to VOTE EARLY!
Early voting in Catawba County is still available through 3 pm Saturday, October 31. Please do NOT wait until Election Day to vote. Any number of things can happen that could prevent you from voting that day and making your voice heard. If someone is not registered, they can register and vote at the same time during early voting. You CANNOT register on Election Day. Check October 13 Take Action Tuesday for a refresher on locations and hours of early voting in Catawba County. https://www.indivisibleccv.org/october-13-2026
In other North Carolina election related news, over 10,000 absentee ballots have been identified as having a problem with the ballot that the voter can fix. County boards of elections are notifying voters whose ballot is missing a witness or notary signature, has an unsealed inner envelope, or otherwise will be rejected unless the deficiency is “cured.” As you may recall, on September 4, the day the first absentee ballots were to be sent out, the North Carolina State Board of Elections passed strict rules around the completion of absentee ballots. Pro-voting groups have been working hard to provide education to voters on the many steps required when submitting the absentee ballot. Although the state board insists these measures are necessary to prevent voter fraud, the impact is to potentially disenfranchise thousands of voters. The rejection rate this year is significantly higher than it was in 2022. When we recall that the vote differential 2 years ago in a very controversial North Carolina Supreme Court race was only 734 votes, the significance of this number of potentially rejected ballots becomes clear.
Finally, we have no idea what may happen AFTER the election. The county canvass is scheduled for November 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Catawba County Board of Elections office, 145 Government Drive, Newton. Once the canvass is complete, it is sent to the North Carolina State Board of Elections for statewide canvassing and certification. The statewide canvass is scheduled for November 24, 2026. Depending on events in North Carolina and elsewhere, there may be mass mobilization events and demonstrations. We hope to have more information about this next week.
WHAT TO DO and HOW TO DO IT
Please share this information with family and friends who may not be as well-informed. Ask at least 3 friends or family members who may not have voted already to please go VOTE EARLY! Help them create a plan to vote. If you have marginalized neighbors, ask if they need assistance voting. Early turnout numbers are higher than in 2022, but we must keep the momentum going.
You can also volunteer with “Chase and Cure: Absentee and Early Vote Ballot Cure Phonebank.” This effort is directed at reaching those voters who have curable deficiencies. It’s virtual – all you need is a couch, a laptop, and a phone. The organizers provide training and a script. Multiple times and dates this week are available.
https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/1045002/
This week’s quote:
“I have no respect for the kind of character that takes advantage and does something they know is not true… I have always felt that anyone who wanted an election so much they would use those means did not have the character that I really admired in public life.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy!
ICCV Legislative Committee
“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”