North Carolina’s voting rules are set to face major changes with a Republican-backed bill.
Legislative battle: The General Assembly’s narrow Republican supermajority is prepared to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of an elections bill.
* The Republicans claim the measure will enhance election integrity, while Cooper argues it will create new obstacles for younger, non-white voters and enable voter intimidation at the polls.
What’s changing: A key change is the removal of a three-day grace period for counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day.
* The bill will also expand access for partisan poll watchers.
* The grace period for mail ballots, in place since 2009, became a point of contention for the Republicans amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Democrats voice concerns over voter intimidation by partisan poll observers.
Legislative Impact: Democrats in the state legislature cooperated with Republican bill sponsors to mitigate the legislation’s impact.
* Democratic state Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed negotiated an amendment to some portions of the bill, like limiting a provision requiring signature verification of absentee-by-mail ballots.
* Despite Republican openness to discussion, Mohammed remains critical of the bill, characterizing it as a solution searching for a problem.
Republicans’ political power: The GOP voting bill appears as Republicans in North Carolina are demonstrating stronger political influence.
* With a veto override virtually assured, Democrats can only find comfort in the minor ways they’ve helped shape the final legislation.
* Coupled with a 5-2 majority in the North Carolina Supreme Court, Republicans are in a position to reshape the political landscape effectively.
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