As North Carolina Republicans face the prospect of losing their supermajority in the state House, they are moving quickly to implement changes that would limit the power of Governor-elect Josh Stein over the state’s election process. Although Republicans will maintain control of both legislative chambers, they are now one seat shy of their previous veto-proof majority, which would give Stein more authority in election-related matters.
The Republican-controlled legislature has passed a bill that aims to reduce the governor’s influence over the state’s elections by transferring the responsibility for appointing members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) to the state auditor. The state auditor, a Republican, Dave Boliek, would now oversee election appointments and budget decisions, effectively shifting control of the board to the GOP.
🚨 #BREAKING: North Carolina Republicans just passed a new law taking away power from the incoming Democratic governor that would allow him authority over the State Elections Board – NBC
They also just shortened how long voters have to "fix" mail-in ballot errors and increased… pic.twitter.com/3ZXde28OOB
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 22, 2024
Jim Womack, president of the North Carolina Election Integrity Team, praised the legislation, saying it would help secure the state’s elections. “The auditor is in a good position to conduct an audit of our elections for the first time in history,” Womack explained. This move is seen as a way for Republicans to ensure greater oversight of the election process, especially as the state’s political landscape evolves.
In addition to restructuring election oversight, the bill includes provisions aimed at increasing the security of absentee voting. The new rules would limit the amount of time voters have to correct issues with absentee ballots, such as missing signatures or witness information. Under the current system, voters can make corrections up to one week after Election Day, but the new bill would cut this window to just two and a half days.
North Carolina State House Passes Bill Limiting Democrat Governor’s Emergency Powers https://t.co/kH94F40nE3 pic.twitter.com/Gti7E5qBUZ
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) March 31, 2021
The bill also mandates that absentee votes be counted on Election Night and sets a three-day deadline for counting provisional ballots. These measures come in response to the 2024 Supreme Court race, where absentee and provisional ballots shifted the results, leading to protests from Republicans and other groups.
The legislation is expected to face a veto from Governor Cooper, but with Republicans still holding significant legislative power, a veto override vote is likely to take place in early December. This move marks the latest chapter in the ongoing debate over election laws and the role of state leadership in overseeing elections.
