Try to strip power from the Democratic governor in Hurricane relief bill after they lose elections in NC.
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to transfer authority over the state’s Board of Elections to the state auditor’s office, a move that will place administration and appointment of its members under GOP purview.
Changes would make it harder for people who use absentee ballots to have their votes count .
The plan, included in a bill that also funds further aid for Hurricane Helene relief, would further strip power from the governor’s office, which currently has appointment power and will remain in Democratic control under Governor-elect Josh Stein.
[Editor’s note: Other provisions in the 132-page proposal (which was drafted in secret and cannot, as a conference committee report, be amended) would make significant changes to public education, law enforcement, the duties of the attorney general, environmental protection, public utility oversight, and the state judiciary. NC Newsline will provide summaries of proposed law changes in these and other areas as soon as possible.]
The measure also grants Auditor-elect Dave Boliek, a Republican, new jurisdiction after he defeated Auditor Jessica Holmes and flipped control of an office held by Democrats since 2009.
The board’s powers would remain independent of the auditor’s office, according to the bill, but its budgeting and appointments would fall under the direction of the auditor. The auditor’s ability to make appointments would start on May 1, 2025.
Staff at the State Board of Elections were presented with the bill Tuesday morning, spokesperson Pat Gannon said in an email to NC Newsline. He confirmed that if the changes were made law, control of the state board could change hands.
ncnewsline.com
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to transfer authority over the state’s Board of Elections to the state auditor’s office, a move that will place administration and appointment of its members under GOP purview.
Changes would make it harder for people who use absentee ballots to have their votes count .
The plan, included in a bill that also funds further aid for Hurricane Helene relief, would further strip power from the governor’s office, which currently has appointment power and will remain in Democratic control under Governor-elect Josh Stein.
[Editor’s note: Other provisions in the 132-page proposal (which was drafted in secret and cannot, as a conference committee report, be amended) would make significant changes to public education, law enforcement, the duties of the attorney general, environmental protection, public utility oversight, and the state judiciary. NC Newsline will provide summaries of proposed law changes in these and other areas as soon as possible.]
The measure also grants Auditor-elect Dave Boliek, a Republican, new jurisdiction after he defeated Auditor Jessica Holmes and flipped control of an office held by Democrats since 2009.
The board’s powers would remain independent of the auditor’s office, according to the bill, but its budgeting and appointments would fall under the direction of the auditor. The auditor’s ability to make appointments would start on May 1, 2025.
Staff at the State Board of Elections were presented with the bill Tuesday morning, spokesperson Pat Gannon said in an email to NC Newsline. He confirmed that if the changes were made law, control of the state board could change hands.
NC Republicans aim to let GOP auditor appoint state election board • NC Newsline
Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to transfer authority over the state's Board of Elections to the state auditor's office.
ncnewsline.com
