The North Carolina State Board of Elections is reminding residents that it is a felony to intentionally vote twice in an election.
In a statement on Thursday, Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, wrote, “It is illegal to vote twice in an election. N.C.G.S. § 163-275(7) makes it a Class I felony for a voter, ‘with intent to commit a fraud to register or vote at more than one precinct or more than one time…in the same primary or election.'”
“Attempting to vote twice in an election or soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law,” she added.
Bell’s comments come a day after President Donald Trump suggested that people should try to vote twice to ensure their vote is counted.
Speaking to supporters in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Wednesday, the president said that if voters receive “unsolicited ballots,” they should “send it in, and then go — make sure it counted.”
He continued, “And if it doesn’t tabulate, you vote. You just vote. And then if they tabulate it very late, which they shouldn’t be doing, they’ll see you voted, and so it won’t count.”
Finally, he repeated his claim, “So, send it in early, and then go and vote. And if it’s not tabulated — you vote. And the vote is going to count.”
"Send it in early and then go and vote… you can't let them take your vote away."
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) September 3, 2020
Donald Trump suggests postal voters in North Carolina vote twice – one by mail and once in person – to make sure their first vote counts.
Voting more than once in an election is illegal. pic.twitter.com/H3wtgnftLC
However, in several states, intentionally voting twice is illegal.
Bell said there are “numerous checks in place” to prevent people from voting twice.
She explained one such protocol:
“If a voter tries to check in who has already voted, they will be prevented from voting a regular ballot. A voter will be offered a provisional ballot if they insist on voting, and this ballot will be researched after Election Day to determine whether it should be counted.”
Bell added that the poll books will be updated before voting starts on election day to remove those whose absentee ballots have already been received.
Additionally, she noted there is a “dedicated investigations team that investigates allegations of double voting, which are referred to prosecutors when warranted.”
If voters request an absentee ballot but later decide they want to vote in person, Bell said they can simply discard the absentee ballot. She added, “Do not send it back in.”
Finally, she said voters can check to see if their absentee ballots were counted without leaving their home. She noted they can check their voting record by visiting the State Board of Elections’ “Voter Search Tool.”
Alternatively, they can use a system called “BallotTrax” that allows voters to “track their ballot through the mail and confirm receipt by the county board of elections, much like they can track their online order or pizza delivery.”
However, she discouraged voters from traveling to polling stations to check on the status of their ballot.
During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked why Trump told people to vote twice.
She responded, “The president is not suggesting anyone do anything unlawful. What he said very clearly there is make sure your vote is tabulated and if it is not, then vote.”
Kayleigh McEnany on Trump urging his supporters in North Carolina to vote twice, which is a felony: "The president is not suggesting anyone do anything unlawful." pic.twitter.com/e00aBy5RN4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 3, 2020
“The president said send it in early, go and see if it’s been tabulated, if it hasn’t been tabulated, then vote,” she added.