North Carolina Judges Block Republican Bid to Alter Election Board Appointments

The decision, following a preliminary injunction sought by Governor Roy Cooper, could influence the administration of the 2024 elections in the state.

• North Carolina trial judges have blocked portions of a new law that would have transferred the authority to appoint election board members from the Democratic Governor to the Republican-dominated General Assembly.
• The judges issued a preliminary injunction sought by Governor Roy Cooper, who argued that the changes to the State Board of Elections and county boards in all 100 counties would irreparably harm his constitutional directive to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed'.
• The outcome of the injunction request and Cooper's broader litigation on the law could affect how the 2024 elections are administered in North Carolina, the ninth-largest U.S. state, where races for president and governor are likely to be closely contested.
• The new law, which was enacted after Republican lawmakers overrode Cooper’s veto, would have increased the board to eight members appointed by the General Assembly, likely creating a 4-4 split among Democrats and Republicans.
• Republicans have argued that the changes would promote bipartisan election administration and consensus, while Cooper and his allies have countered that the changes are a GOP power grab that could erode early voting access and send outcomes of contested elections to the courts or the General Assembly to settle.

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