A law North Carolina Republicans approved scaling back the new Democratic governor’s control over election boards won’t be enforced until his legal challenge to it is resolved, state judges decided Thursday. A panel of trial court judges is granting the request by Gov. Roy Cooper to extend a temporary 10-day block on the law, which Cooper argues is unconstitutional because it shifts appointment powers from him to legislative leaders. Cooper sued GOP legislative leaders just before his New Year’s Day swearing-in, challenging a law the General Assembly approved in a surprise special session barely a week after Republican incumbent Pat McCrory conceded to Cooper in their close race. Barring any appeals, the incremental victory for Cooper keeps separate the State Board of Elections and the State Ethics Commission and halts what his allies considered an illegal power grab by Republicans. But GOP legislators said the blocked law would promote bipartisanship in carrying out elections. “We’re pleased with the result,” Cooper spokeswoman Noelle Talley said in an email.
The governor appoints all five members of the State Board of Elections, with the members of the governor’s party holding a 3-2 majority. Cooper would get to make his appointments May 1.
Whoever is in charge of elections this year could set the schedule and rules for special General Assembly elections that were ordered by federal judges after they threw out nearly 30 House and Senate districts as illegal racial gerrymanders. Election board members also decide important early voting times and locations.
The December law would have merged the ethics and elections boards effective Jan. 1. Moving forward, the new panel would have had eight appointments: four by the governor and two each by the House speaker and Senate leader. Although there would be an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, action couldn’t occur unless any six members agreed.
Full Article: Judges decide to keep North Carolina election law blocked | WLOS.