NCGOP Chairman: State Board of Elections plays politics with Early Voting Site Plans

Today, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons sent a letter to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) critical of their decision to approve Early Voting Site Plans for the 2024 General Election more than three months earlier than normal procedure. 

"The job of conducting elections is a critical function of our system of government and those who are tasked with its operation must act above reproach at all times...

Unfortunately, a recent directive from the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) earlier this month calls their motives into question."

As we have previously called attention to, the NCSBE has chosen to approve Early Voting Site Plans for the 2024 General Election well ahead of both historical precedent and against their own "best practice".

"Based upon the actions taken, I am left to believe the NCSBE is engaging in blatant partisanship of historical fashion in an attempt to circumvent pending litigation."

The NCSBE appears to be acting to approve these plans, while counties don't have approved county budgets in place, and are also conducting multiple statewide runoff elections. 

"Current law gives Democrats a 3-2 advantage at both the State and County level. In acting on general election site plans now, the State Board is acting with clear partisan intent. That is not only unprecedented, but wrong..

The NCSBE has an obligation to act in accordance with best practices and fairness with not just political parties, but with the 100 counties and their election administrators and officials." 

Chairman Simmons calls on the NCSBE to rescind the directive and apologize to the counties' election officials and administrators.

See Simmons' letter here.