North Carolina’s Political Power Struggle Continues — At Voters’ Expense
By Crystal Hill

December 9, 2024

After the general election, North Carolina’s government finds itself in a partisan power struggle that may not bode well for the future of voting rights in the battleground state.

The conflict stems from a legislative proposal that would make sweeping changes to statewide offices, including taking authority over the state election board away from the governor — a Democrat — and giving it to the state auditor, an office that will soon be held by a Republican. Currently, the governor appoints members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), which oversees the electoral process in the state’s 100 counties.

The bill would also prevent the attorney general from bringing or joining a lawsuit that’s contrary to the position of the General Assembly. Another provision would shorten the deadline for when a voter can fix a mistake on an absentee ballot from a week to roughly two-and-a-half days.

Pro-voting advocates slammed the legislation as an anti-democratic power grab. “Instead of lashing out at North Carolina voters, lawmakers should focus on doing their jobs and get to work serving the public,” Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina, said in a statement. “The people of North Carolina have had enough of these ridiculous partisan political games.”

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https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/north-carolinas-political-power-struggle-continues-at-voters-expense/