North Carolina Republican lawmakers recently passed a bill that would strip incoming Democratic Governor and Attorney General of key powers, before potentially losing their veto-proof majority in the Legislature. The bill would grant the authority to appoint members to the state’s election board to the state auditor, who will be a Republican, instead of the governor. The legislation also includes other changes to the voting process, such as shortening the time for voters to fix ballot errors and requiring counties to count ballots more rapidly.
The bill, which is 131-pages long, was introduced quickly and behind closed doors, with little input from State Board of Elections staff. Democratic Governor Roy Cooper has criticized the bill as a “power grab,” while Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger defended it as necessary for balance on the elections board.
The legislation also proposes prohibiting the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to the Legislature’s, which would limit the power of the incoming Democrat attorney general. It also strips the governor of some powers in filling judicial vacancies and creating new Superior Court positions.
Republicans are expected to lose their supermajority in the Legislature, meaning they would need Democratic support to override any future vetoes from the attorney general. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats and accusations of political retribution.
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