Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have recently passed significant changes to the state’s election laws. These changes have sparked immediate legal challenges from Democrats and voting rights groups. The new laws, which could have implications for the upcoming presidential election in the state, will alter the composition of election boards, reduce the time allowed for mail-in ballots to be returned, and grant new powers to partisan poll watchers. One controversial change is that election boards will now be evenly divided by party, potentially leading to deadlocks in crucial decisions such as early voting locations and certifying election results.
Supporters of the new laws argue that they will restore voter confidence in the integrity of elections, while critics, mostly Democrats, claim that the changes aim to make it harder for certain groups of voters, including younger and minority voters who tend to lean Democratic, to cast their ballots. Voting rights groups and Democratic parties at the state and national levels have already filed lawsuits challenging one provision of the election overhaul that singles out voters who register on the same day they go to the polls. This provision requires election officials to send an address verification notice to these voters and could lead to their ballots being disqualified if a return notice from the postal service is marked as “undeliverable,” potentially disenfranchising voters due to errors made by officials or postal workers.
Additionally, these new laws will sideline the governor, as election boards will no longer be majority-controlled by the governor’s party, which Republicans argue will prevent manipulation of the system. However, critics believe that this will create chaos and gridlock in North Carolina elections, as boards could reach a deadlock when making important decisions. Governor Roy Cooper has expressed concerns that these changes are an attempt by Republican legislators to limit early voting and accused them of being more focused on gaining and retaining power than on election security. Other changes enacted by these new laws include eliminating a three-day grace period after Election Day for receiving mail-in ballots and granting more authority to partisan poll observers, which some argue could potentially intimidate voters.
