North Carolina Republican lawmakers passed a bill that would strip key powers from the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general before the GOP loses its veto-proof supermajority next year. The legislation would allow the state auditor, a Republican, to appoint members to the state’s election board, a power currently held by the governor. This move is seen as an attempt by Republicans to gain control of the historically Democratic-controlled State Board of Elections. The bill also includes provisions to shorten the time for voters to fix ballot errors and require counties to count ballots more rapidly.
The bill was written behind closed doors and introduced as a committee substitute, passing both chambers of the Legislature in just two days. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has criticized the measure as a “power grab,” while the executive director of the State Board of Elections expressed concerns about the potential impact on ballot counting in high turnout elections.
The legislation also proposes prohibiting the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to those of the Legislature, and would strip the governor of some powers in filling judicial vacancies. Republicans are likely to lose their supermajority pending the result of a recount in a state House race, which would mean they cannot override any future vetoes from the attorney general without Democratic support. This comes as the state’s elections board is currently split 3-2 in favor of Democrats, and the incoming attorney general, a Democrat, would be prevented from refusing to defend laws passed by the Legislature.
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