Johnston GOP Warns Residents About Confusing Voter Registration Mailings

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Johnston County residents who receive an official-looking voter registration mailing in the coming weeks are being urged not to panic.

The Johnston County Republican Party on Wednesday echoed a warning issued earlier this month by the North Carolina State Board of Elections about mailings sent by a private organization known as Ready to Register, Inc. The state says the mailings have caused confusion among voters and created additional work for county election offices.

The envelopes are marked with phrases such as “ELECTION NOTICE,” “OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ENCLOSED,” and “TIME SENSITIVE: IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED.” However, the organization states inside the mailing that it is not affiliated with any government agency.

“Receiving one of these mailings does not necessarily mean that a person is unregistered or that there is a problem with the individual’s voter record,” Johnston County Republican Party Chairman Marshall Conrad said in a news release.

According to the State Board of Elections, the mailings include outdated voter registration applications listing political parties that are no longer recognized in North Carolina. Currently, voters may register as Democratic, Republican, Green, Libertarian or unaffiliated. Anyone selecting a party that is no longer recognized would instead be registered as unaffiliated.

State election officials have also received reports that the mailings were sent to deceased individuals, suggesting the organization may be relying on outdated voter information. In New Hanover County, the mailers reportedly included an incorrect return address for the county board of elections, potentially preventing completed registration forms from being delivered properly.

Another concern involves QR codes printed on the mailings. The State Board said it has received multiple reports that scanning the codes may cause another person’s information to automatically populate on a voter registration form, raising privacy concerns.

“Johnston County voters should not be alarmed by a privately produced mailing that appears urgent or official,” Conrad said. “The best response is to verify your information directly through the State Board of Elections or contact the Johnston County Board of Elections.”

The Republican Party emphasized that voters who are already registered at their current address do not need to respond to the mailing and may simply discard it.

The State Board of Elections issued similar guidance, encouraging voters to routinely verify their registration information using the state’s official online Voter Search tool and to contact their county board of elections if they have questions. State election officials also advised residents with concerns about the mailing to contact Ready to Register directly.

Johnston County residents with questions about their voter registration can contact the Johnston County Board of Elections at 919-989-5095 or by email at elections@johnstonnc.gov.

The regular voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election is Oct. 9. Eligible voters who miss that deadline may still register and vote at the same time during the early voting period at any early voting location in their county.