The legal action comes two weeks after the state election board voted 3-2 to reject proposed early voting sites at Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and North Carolina A&T—the nation's largest historically Black college and university. The combined enrollment at the three affected campuses exceeds 40,000 students, including more than 15,000 at North Carolina A&T alone.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the First, Fourteenth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Students argue the decision creates substantial barriers to voter participation, particularly for those without private transportation, first-time voters, and out-of-county students.
According to the complaint, students at Western Carolina University now face a two-mile trek to the nearest polling location, which includes walking along a highway without pedestrian infrastructure. The lawsuit contends these obstacles amount to voter suppression and disproportionately impact young Black voters.
"For many of these students, voting in college is their first opportunity to exercise the franchise—a milestone in their civic engagement and a connection to the generations of Black North Carolinians who fought for the right to vote," the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs have also named the Jackson County Board of Elections and its members as defendants. They are seeking a court order blocking the removal of on-campus early voting sites before the March 2026 primary election.
The case highlights ongoing tensions over voting access in higher education, particularly at institutions serving significant populations of first-generation and minority students. The outcome could have implications for student voter access across North Carolina and potentially other states facing similar debates over campus polling locations.
