North Carolina judges block GOP law to strip governor's election board powers

RALEIGH, North Carolina — North Carolina trial judges on Wednesday threw out another Republican attempt to strip the governor of his authority to appoint State Board of Elections members, declaring that a law shifting the task to the state auditor is unconstitutional.

One registered Republican judge and one Democratic judge on the three-member panel sided with Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who with his predecessor Roy Cooper sued over the law finalized by the GOP-dominated General Assembly in December. The third judge, a Republican, dissented.

The governor picks the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor’s party. Appointments are made from candidates provided by the two major political parties.

The latest law would have given the responsibility to new GOP state Auditor Dave Boliek starting May 1, with the expectation that Republicans would assume a majority on the board.




https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/23/north-carolina-judges-block-gop-law-to-strip-governors-election-board-powers-00307097