North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers have passed a sweeping bill that strips incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein of key powers, such as the authority to appoint members to the state’s election board. The legislation also includes provisions to shorten the time for voters to fix ballot errors and require counties to count ballots more rapidly. The bill, which was introduced behind closed doors and passed over just two days, also includes hurricane relief funding and advances other Republican legislative priorities.
The move is seen as a power grab by the Republicans, as they are seeking to gain control of the State Board of Elections, historically controlled by the party of the governor. The legislation also proposes limiting the attorney general’s ability to take legal positions contrary to those of the Legislature and stripping the governor of some of his power in filling judicial vacancies. The Republicans are likely to lose their veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature next year, which would limit their ability to override any future vetoes from Democrats.
Democrats, including Cooper and Stein, have criticized the bill as an attempt to grab power and exact political retribution. The legislation is seen as a response to years of conflict between the Republican-led Legislature and the Democratic governor’s administration in the battleground state. Despite the opposition, the bill is expected to be signed into law, marking a significant shift in power dynamics in North Carolina.
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