The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Sept. 29, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script.)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
In August, we reported on the North Carolina legislature’s SB 749, stripping the power of the governor to appoint members of the State Board of Elections and giving it to the legislature. Last week, the bill passed the state senate. It’s likely to be vetoed, but will be overridden by a legislature flexing its new veto-proof majority.
The North Carolina Supreme Court, which had protected the election board from previous legislative attempts to hijack it, took a hard right turn in the 2022 midterms. Then in April, a Democrat switched parties, giving Republicans a veto-proof majority in both houses of the legislature.
SB 749 allows the legislature to appoint equal numbers to the elections board, similar to the toothless Federal Election Commission. Either party could derail critical election decisions, such as approving early voting locations or interpretation of rules. If the choice of the board’s chair deadlocks, the bill empowers the legislature to make the appointment. The change also applies to county boards of elections. Voters overwhelmingly rejected a similar constitutional amendment in 2018.
Such one-sided control eases the way for a state legislature to disrupt the election process (think 2020), weaken meaningful oversight, and further erode confidence in elections – and with a friendly court to back it all up.
We have links to the bills and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
WRAL – (2018) Voter ID, three other amendments pass; power shift proposals defeated
CNN – GOP-controlled North Carolina Supreme Court reverses rulings that struck down partisan gerrymanders by Republican lawmakers
Associated Press – Party switch gives GOP veto-proof control in North Carolina
North Carolina Legislature – Ratified Text for SB 749
Associated Press – N.C. legislature gives final OK to election board changes; governor’s veto expected
Democracy Docket – Ignoring 62% of Voters, North Carolina Republicans Overhaul Elections Board With Senate Bill 749
Groups Taking Action:
North Carolina Black Alliance, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Voter, ACLU North Carolina
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