In North Carolina, thousands of mail-in ballots are at risk of rejection due to recently imposed strict rules by the GOP, prompting concerns from state officials and voting rights advocates. A federal judge has upheld these new absentee ballot rules, allowing them to remain in effect through the midterms. Governor Roy Cooper and Governor Stein have both criticized the rising rejection rates, urging voters to consider in-person voting and plan ahead to ensure their ballots are counted. As rejection rates continue to climb, advocates are warning that these restrictions could significantly impact voter participation.