📝When you play abuse your power there are consequences for your actions Non‑Public Information cannot Be Used in an Election Protest?

1. What the Law Says

• Election protests in North Carolina are governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163‑182.9 and related administrative rules.

• A protest must be based on specific, factual allegations that an irregularity or violation occurred which could affect the outcome of the election.

• Evidence can be presented, but it must be admissible and relevant to the protest.

  
  

2. Public vs. Non‑Public Information

• Public Records: Voter registration data, election results, poll books, and other official election materials are public and routinely used in protests.

• Non‑Public / Confidential Records: Items such as private financial documents, loan records, medical information, or personal data are not public records and generally cannot be introduced unless:

  • They are directly relevant to the protest, AND

  • They were obtained legally (e.g., through consent, subpoena, or lawful discovery).

    
    

3. Privacy Protections

• North Carolina law protects citizens’ private information. For example:

  • Right to Financial Privacy Act (federal) restricts access to bank and loan records.

  • State privacy laws prevent disclosure of personal data without cause.

• If non‑public information is introduced without proper authority, it can be challenged, excluded from the record, and may even trigger ethical or legal consequences for the person who submitted it.

  
  

4. Board of Elections Role

• County Boards of Elections must ensure that only relevant, lawfully obtained evidence is considered.

• If a protest includes non‑public information obtained improperly, the Board can strike it from the record and may refer the matter to the State Bar or other authorities if attorney misconduct is suspected.

  
  

✅ Conclusion

Non‑public information cannot simply be presented in an election protest in North Carolina. It must be lawfully obtained, directly relevant, and admissible. Introducing private documents (like house loans or financial records) without proper authority is a serious breach of privacy and may expose the filer to disciplinary action.