News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2026
10:00 a.m. ET

MEDIA CONTACT
Mo Banks
mo.banks@andrewgoodman.org
(201) 502-6144

North Carolina Board of Elections Denies On-Campus Early Voting Sites; The Andrew Goodman Foundation Supports Student-Led Efforts to Restore Access

On Tuesday, January 13th, the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 to approve a plan for Guilford County’s 2026 primary elections that excludes an early voting site at several North Carolina Universities, including North Carolina A&T State University, the largest Historically Black College or University in the United States. The decision follows similar actions by local boards that removed on-campus early voting locations amid broader debates over early voting access in the state, and sets a precedent for removing early voting sites from campuses for the 2026 general election as well.

Under the current plan, North Carolina A&T, one of our Andrew Goodman Campuses, will only host an Election Day polling location on March 3, 2026, a date that coincides with the university’s spring break, when most students will not be present on campus. In addition, Election Day voting at that location will be restricted to voters residing in the precinct where the campus sits, excluding many students who live on campus but are registered in other precincts.

The Andrew Goodman Foundation believes on-campus early voting is a vital form of access for students and community members who may face barriers with time and transportation when required to vote off campus. AGF has long supported solutions that remove barriers to participation and promote equitable access to the ballot for young voters.

AGF is backing the student-led effort at North Carolina A&T to engage constructively with the Guilford County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections to identify a workable model for restoring on-campus early voting. Students have proposed collaborative approaches, including shorter early voting periods on campus and student volunteer poll workers, that aim to reduce logistical concerns while maintaining meaningful access. AGF stands with students as they work to ensure their voices are heard in decisions that affect their ability to participate in elections.

“This decision to exclude an early on-campus polling site at North Carolina A&T is consistent with efforts to suppress young and marginalized voters across the state and the entire country,” said Caroline Smith, The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Director of Programs. “We know that voter suppression – especially against Black voters – has been happening for decades, and we won’t stop fighting until our students at North Carolina A&T and across the country see true, equitable access to the ballot box.”

The Andrew Goodman Foundation maintains that on-campus early voting is a proven tool for expanding access, particularly for first-time and student voters who may face logistical or administrative barriers. AGF remains committed to supporting student-led efforts to restore fair and accessible voting options for college students in North Carolina.

About The Andrew Goodman Foundation

The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s mission is to make young voices and votes a powerful force in democracy by training the next generation of leaders, engaging young voters, and challenging restrictive voter suppression laws. The organization is named after Andrew Goodman, a Freedom Summer volunteer and champion of equality and voting rights who was murdered, alongside James Earl Chaney and Michael Schwerner, by the KKK in 1964 while registering Black Americans to vote in Mississippi. To learn more, visit www.andrewgoodman.org.

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