Archive · 24 May 2025
NC High Court Allows Election Board Power Shift to Continue
In North Carolina, there's a fight over who picks the people who run elections.
Normally, the governor chooses them, but the state's Republicans made a new law saying a Republican official gets to pick them.
The old governor, who is a Democrat, said this wasn't fair and sued.
A judge agreed with him at first, but then a higher court said the new rules could start now.
The Supreme Court agreed, so the new picks are in charge.
The court will still figure out if the law is fair in the long run, but for now, the Republicans are running the show.
North Carolina Supreme Court allowed a law shifting appointment power of the State Board of Elections to proceed.
The law transfers appointment power from the Democratic governor to the Republican State Auditor.
A trial court declared the law unconstitutional, but an appeals court allowed it to be enforced.
The Supreme Court sided with the appeals court, enabling the new board to begin its work.
The new board, now with a GOP majority, can make decisions on campaign finance and voting rules.
- Who
- North Carolina Supreme Court, Governor Josh Stein, Republican legislative leaders.
- What
- The North Carolina Supreme Court allowed a law shifting the power to appoint State Board of Elections members from the Democratic governor to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek to be enforced.
- When
- The new law went into effect in May, and the legal battle will continue for months.
- Where
- North Carolina
- Why
- To shift control of the State Board of Elections from the Democratic governor to a Republican official.
Democratic View
Republican View
Constitutionality of Law
Democratic View
The law is unconstitutional because it shifts power from the Governor.
Republican View
The law shifting appointment power is constitutional.
- Legislature
- GOP-controlled General Assembly
- Law's Effect
- Shifted power from Governor to State Auditor Dave Boliek.
- Board Appointments Made
- May 1
- Supreme Court
- 5-4 Republican majority
- Ousted Official
- Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell