Rep. Ball files voter protection bill in North Carolina House

A new bill filed by State Rep. Cynthia Ball in the North Carolina House aims to protect voters’ rights by ensuring ballots cast according to existing laws are counted and election procedures remain stable, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 691 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Voter Protection and Reliance Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill, titled the “Voter Protection and Reliance Act,” seeks to protect voters’ rights by ensuring that ballots cast in compliance with existing laws and procedures are counted. It prevents any changes to voting procedures after an election that could invalidate votes cast in good faith based on the procedures in place at that time. The bill prohibits excluding votes from canvassing or failing to certify an election based on new or previously invalidated laws or procedures that were not in effect on election day. It mandates expedited handling of election-related litigation filed within 90 days prior to absentee ballots being mailed or post-election, with such cases to be heard in the Superior Court of Wake County and potentially under a three-judge panel. Additionally, it protects voters from challenges to their registration based solely on technical or clerical errors. The act is effective upon becoming law.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Allison A. Dahle proposed the most bills (22) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Ball graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA and again from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ball, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 49th House district, replacing previous state representative Gary Pendleton.