Just two weeks before the midterm elections, a panel of judges ruled that the process for overseas elections in North Carolina is unconstitutional. Recognizing the impossibilities of trying any form of modification, this close to elections, the board of judges asked that the North Carolina Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement continue to work as they have been doing till elections are over and votes counted.
The laws tagged as unconstitutional curbed the influence of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and were put in place a month after Cooper’s victory in 2016. These laws were hand crafted in 2017 and 2018 by Republican-led General Assembly and drew outrage from Democrats.
Cooper had majority of support in the board in a 2-1 ruling with Jeffrey Foster of Pitt County being the only dissenter.
The spokesman for the election board however acknowledged avoidance of election disruption and could not bring himself to terms of the ruling saying that, the order is still under review by the board. Voters will have a chance to weigh in soon with a referendum dealing with the elections board on the table November 6.
While urging people to embrace as constitutional the amendment by Republican lawmakers, Republican Representative David Lewis of Harnett County said “The public deserves a bipartisan elections board that implements elections laws and investigates campaign finance violations without favoritism towards any party or political agenda”. Republican Warren Daniel of Burke County added “The people can weigh in starting today by voting on the proposed amendment to make a bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement a part of our state constitution.”
According to a great article by Will Doran at the News & Observer:
Supporters say the change would take politics out of elections, and that it’s good to reduce the power of the governor over election policies. Opponents say the change would only increase the effects of partisan politics, however, since having an equally split board would result in numerous 4-4 ties and reduced oversight for potential election law violations.
The amendment will determine who wields power in the Board of Elections. North Carolinians should take notice. See an explanatory video by the North Carolina Bar Association and Public Media North Carolina below for more on this story:
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