North Carolina's political landscape is once again heating up as Governor Roy Cooper and Governor-elect Josh Stein have initiated legal action against Republican legislators over recent modifications to the State Board of Elections appointments process—a move they consider unconstitutional. The complaint, centered on Senate Bill 382 which the Republican-majority passed in December, directly challenges the transfer of power it grants to the incoming Republican State Auditor for appointing members to the State Board of Elections as well as the heads of each county’s electoral board.
Asserting the longstanding stability and fairness of election proceedings in North Carolina under the incumbent structure, Governor Cooper stated that these "blatantly partisan efforts to give control over elections boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose," which was echoed by Governor-elect Stein's condemnation of the bill as an insult to voters and an affront to democratic principles, according to a statement obtained by the Governor's office. The origins of this conflict trace back several years, with Republican legislative leaders' repeated, unsuccessful attempts to assume control over the State Board of Elections.
Governor-elect Stein also didn't hold back in his critique of the legislative power play, saying, “In recent years, these legislative leaders have repeatedly tried and failed to seize control of the State Board of Elections for their own partisan gain,” further labeling the recent maneuver as an affront that dismisses the will of North Carolina residents expressed through prior elections where such power shifts were rebuffed, according to the Governor's office statement.
Senate Bill 382, enacted against Governor Cooper's veto and strictly along partisan lines, represents yet another chapter in this long-standing dispute that has already seen several court rejections and direct opposition by North Carolina voters in 2018; the lawsuit by the Governor and Governor-elect aims to ensure that the checks and balances intended by the North Carolina Constitution are preserved, arguing that this kind of legislature could damage the public's trust in election integrity and goes against democratic foundations that are fundamental to the state's governance.
