North Carolina Republicans have approved sweeping election integrity legislation designed to strengthen election oversight, tighten voter roll maintenance, and expand the ability to challenge potentially ineligible ballots after Election Day.
The measure passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly this week and is expected to be vetoed by Democrat Gov. Josh Stein..
However, Republicans have successfully overridden several of Stein’s vetoes this year, meaning the legislation could still become law if GOP lawmakers once again assemble enough votes.
One of the bill’s most significant provisions would allow county residents to challenge ballots cast during early voting for up to three business days after an election.
“The idea of having an auditor audit county boards of elections sounds innocuous, but it allows the auditor to pick and choose which boards he audits, and it has to be seen in light of what the auditor has done to politicize the administration of elections in North Carolina,” Stein said.
County election boards also would be permitted to invalidate ballots by a simple majority vote.
Current law requires challenges to be filed on the same day an early vote is cast.
The legislation shortens North Carolina’s early voting period for primary elections by one week.
It also establishes a process for removing voters flagged as potentially ineligible through federal databases and expands the state auditor’s authority to review election administration.
The reforms are aimed at strengthening election integrity by ensuring that only eligible ballots are counted while increasing oversight of the election system.
The bill also expands the election-related responsibilities of Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek.
Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers transferred appointment authority for county election boards from the governor to the auditor’s office.
Under the legislation, Boliek would receive additional authority to audit county election boards and other aspects of election administration.
The measure follows months of debate over election procedures and voter eligibility in North Carolina, where Republicans have made election integrity a top legislative priority.
Earlier this year, the GOP successfully overrode multiple Stein vetoes, raising the prospect that the election integrity package could ultimately become law despite the governor’s opposition.
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