North Carolina Students March Over a Mile to Vote After GOP Closes Campus Polling Sites

Hundreds of students in the battleground state remain determined to cast ballots as early voting opens.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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As early voting began for the state primaries, North Carolina college students found themselves walking more than a mile to cast their ballots after the Republican-controlled State Board of Elections closed polling places on their campuses. The board voted to close a polling site at Western Carolina University and reject the creation of polling sites at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the largest historically Black college in the nation. Despite the hurdles, hundreds of students remained determined to vote, with some marching in protest to their nearest polling places.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing efforts by North Carolina Republicans to restrict voting access, particularly for young and minority voters, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The closure of campus polling sites is seen as a tactic to limit the political power of college students, a key demographic that has trended more progressive in recent elections.

The details

The State Board of Elections, which shifted to a 3-2 GOP majority, voted to close a polling site at Western Carolina University and reject the creation of polling sites at UNC Greensboro and NC A&T, the largest historically Black college in the nation. Each of these schools had polling places available on campus during the 2024 election. The decision left many of the 40,000 students who attend these schools more than a mile away from the nearest polling place.

  • Early voting began for the state primaries in North Carolina.
  • The State Board of Elections voted last month to close and reject the campus polling sites.
  • The decision came just weeks before early voting was scheduled to begin.

The players

North Carolina State Board of Elections

The state agency responsible for administering elections in North Carolina, which has a 3-2 Republican majority.

Western Carolina University

A public university in North Carolina that had a polling site on campus during the 2024 election, which was closed by the state board.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

A public university in North Carolina where the state board rejected the creation of a polling site on campus.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

The largest historically Black college in the nation, located in North Carolina, where the state board rejected the creation of a polling site on campus.

Jae'lah Monet

A student organizer at NC A&T who helped lead a march to the nearest polling place more than 1.3 miles away.

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What they’re saying

“'Aggies do what is necessary for our rights, for our survival, and for our people,'”

— Jae'lah Monet, Student organizer, NC A&T (Spectrum News 1)

What’s next

The students have filed a lawsuit challenging the closure of the campus polling sites, arguing it violates their access to the ballot and same-day registration. A federal judge has already rejected their demand to reopen the polling centers.

The takeaway

This case underscores the ongoing battle over voting rights in the crucial battleground state of North Carolina, where Republicans have implemented a series of measures seen as attempts to limit the political power of young and minority voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.