North Carolina Republican lawmakers recently passed a sweeping bill that would strip incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein of key powers. This includes giving the authority to appoint members to the state’s election board to the state auditor, who will be held by a Republican after the recent election. The legislation also includes shorter deadlines for voters to fix ballot errors and faster ballot counting requirements in counties. This bill, which was introduced quickly and passed by both GOP-controlled chambers, also includes hurricane relief funding and other Republican legislative priorities.
The legislation has been criticized by Democrats as a “power grab,” with the executive director of the State Board of Elections stating that the changes could make it difficult to ensure every eligible ballot is counted in high-turnout elections. Senate Republican Phil Berger defended the bill, stating that there was a need for balance on the board responsible for counting votes.
The bill also proposes prohibiting the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to those of the Legislature, and limits the governor’s power in filling judicial vacancies. The passage of this bill comes as Republicans are expected to lose their veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature, which would prevent them from overriding any future vetoes from Attorney General Stein without Democratic support. Attorney General Stein has criticized the bill as a move for “political retribution” rather than focusing on helping those in need in North Carolina.
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