NC Supreme Court greenlights GOP takeover of election administration
The conservative justices decided to let the GOP keeps its newfound majority on the State Board of Elections and strongly indicated the power shift is here to stay.
The new Republican majority on the State Board of Elections and forthcoming stronghold of all 100 county elections boards will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
In a 5-2 order from the North Carolina Supreme Court split along party lines, the conservative justices denied Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's request to reverse a lower court ruling that gave the GOP control over election administration earlier this month.
Starting June 25, county boards of elections are scheduled to see a similar partisan shift from 3-2 Democratic control to 3-2 Republican majorities.
The high court’s order, which came on a late Friday afternoon heading into Memorial Day weekend, also allows Republican Sam Hayes to continue serving as the NCSBE’s executive director. Hayes succeeded Democrat Karen Brinson last week.
Finally, Republican Auditor Dave Boliek is to retain his ability to appoint state elections board members— a power that had remained in the governor’s hands since 1901.
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