North Carolina
Federal judge blocks Republican-backed changes to same-day voter registration rules in North Carolina
A federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a North Carolina elections law on Sunday, preventing changes to the same-day voter registration process from taking effect.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder sided with the North Carolina Democratic Party, arguing that the changes would have violated voters’ due process rights and result in the throwing out of legitimate ballots.
The blocked parts of the law mandated that the state send only one notice to a listed address to verify same-day voter registration, instead of two. The voter’s ballot would then be canceled if the postcard returned as undeliverable, without notifying the voter.
In his ruling, Schroeder wrote that only having one chance to verify an address by mail would be a “substantial burden on same-day registrants who cast a ballot.” He continued that such registrants would “face a non-trivial risk of being erroneously disenfranchised by failing address verification due to governmental error, rather than factors related to their eligibility to vote, without any notice and opportunity to be heard.”
Most of Senate Bill 747 remains in effect, including the banning of private money for administering elections, removing a three-day grace period for receiving absentee ballots and empowering partisan poll watchers.
“The court order requires relatively minor changes to one small part of the bill, and we are working with our attorneys and the State Board of Elections to ensure that the entire bill is in effect before the primary and general elections this year,” NC House Speaker Tim Moore and state Rep. Grey Mills said in a joint statement. “We will never stop fighting for election integrity on behalf of North Carolina’s voters.”
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the bill was overridden by Republican state legislatures on Oct. 10. Moments later, the Democratic National Committee and North Carolina Democratic Party filed a lawsuit challenging it.
Proponents of the bill urged the prevention of fraudulent ballots, while Democrats argued that this restriction represented unconstitutional voter suppression. In his veto message, Cooper wrote that the bill had “nothing to do with election security and everything to do with Republicans keeping and gaining power.”
With Schroeder’s decision, the State Board of Elections must notify same-day registrants if their ballot is canceled. Schroeder’s order says that legislators must either address the due process issues or not uphold the new rules.
Republicans may still appeal the ruling, but it is likely that the law’s same-day voter registration restrictions will not be in effect for March’s primary election. Same-day registration occurs during in-person early voting, which will run from Feb. 15 to March 2.
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| Editor at Large
Madeleine Berger is a Trinity senior and an editor at large of The Chronicle’s 119th volume.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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