North Carolina Governor Vetoes Election Bill, Triggering Confrontation with Republican Supermajority
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has vetoed a Republican elections bill that would eliminate a grace period for voting by mail and allow partisan poll observers more freedom. The Democratic governor argued that Republicans are attempting to suppress the vote and maintain their power by making it harder for young and nonwhite voters to participate. Cooper also vetoed another bill that would take away his appointment power for various boards and commissions. Republican lawmakers are attempting to override Cooper’s vetoes with their three-fifths supermajority. The proposed election changes would go into effect in 2024, ahead of the state’s major elections. Other Republican-controlled legislatures across the country have also acted against early voting and implemented measures to restrict access to the ballot. Democrats argue that these changes disproportionately affect minority groups.
