North Carolina Republican lawmakers recently passed a bill that would strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers before the GOP potentially loses its veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature. The legislation would give the authority to appoint members to the state’s election board to the state auditor instead of the governor, which has historically been controlled by the same party as the governor. The bill also includes provisions to shorten the time for voters to fix ballot errors, require counties to count ballots more rapidly, and advance other Republican legislative priorities. The bill was written behind closed doors and passed quickly through both chambers of the Legislature.
The State Board of Elections staff expressed concerns about the bill, stating that the changes could make it difficult to ensure every eligible ballot is counted. The bill also proposes prohibiting the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to those of the Legislature and restricts the governor’s power in filling judicial vacancies. Democrats criticized the bill as a power grab by Republicans, while Republicans argued that the changes were necessary for balance on the elections board.
The incoming Democratic attorney general, Jeff Jackson, would also be restricted from refusing to defend laws passed by the Legislature, as his predecessor did with a new abortion law. With Republicans likely losing their supermajority in the Legislature, they would need Democratic support to override any future vetoes from the attorney general. The bill has been met with criticism from Democrats who feel the focus should be on helping those in need rather than consolidating political power.
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