Republican lawmakers in North Carolina are pushing forward with legislation designed to limit the power of Governor-elect Josh Stein over election administration after losing their supermajority in the state House. With the loss of one seat in the House, Republicans will no longer be able to override vetoes at will, giving Stein the potential to influence election policies more than his predecessor, Democrat Roy Cooper.
The new bill passed by the Republican-controlled state House and Senate seeks to shift authority for appointing members to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) from the governor to the state auditor. This change would give the Republican-controlled auditor’s office greater influence over election-related decisions, including appointments to the board.
🚨 #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
The bill also introduces new security measures for absentee voting, including shortening the amount of time voters have to correct issues with absentee ballots. Currently, voters can address issues with their absentee ballots up to one week after Election Day, but the new rules would cut this period down to just two and a half days. The bill also mandates that absentee ballots be counted on Election Night, with provisional ballots having a three-day window for counting.
Republicans argue that the measures are necessary to restore public confidence in the state’s election system after the Supreme Court race, where absentee and provisional ballots resulted in a dramatic shift in the election outcome. These changes are aimed at tightening the process and reducing the potential for fraud or mishandling of ballots.
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 is expected to face a veto from Governor Cooper, but Republicans are preparing to override the veto in early December as one of their final acts of the supermajority. The move signals an effort by Republicans to ensure greater oversight and control over elections in North Carolina, despite the changing political landscape.
