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US Court Upholds Extension of North Carolina Mail-In Voting Deadline

VOA News

   A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled thatas long asa voter in the
   state of North Carolina has mailed their absentee ballot no later than
   Election Day, election officials can count it even if it arrives after
   Election Day.

   The 4th Circuit Court of Appealson Tuesdaydenied a challenge to a North
   Carolina State Board of Elections rule that said it will accept mail-in
   ballots as late as November 12. Theoriginalregulationswould have made
   the cutoff November 6.

   The 12-3 ruling involvedall ofthe court's active judges,instead of a
   more typical three-judge panel, signaling the importance of the case.

   The issue is playing out in courts all over the country as election
   officials, political parties and rights groups battle on the question
   of to what extent rulesin each stateshould be changed as more people
   seek to avoid having to go to a polling place on November 3 due to the
   coronavirus pandemic.

   "Everyone must submit their ballot by the same date," said the 4th
   Circuit ruling. "The extension merely allows more lawfully cast ballots
   to be counted, in the event there are any delays precipitated by an
   avalanche of mail-in ballots."

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