NCGOP Response To NCSBE Settlement That Guts Election Protections

September 22, 2020
For Immediate Release

Raleigh, NC - In what appears to be a blatant abuse of the classic sue and settle tactic, Governor Roy Cooper’s handpicked North Carolina State Board of Elections and Josh Stein have “agreed” to overrule statutory law and weaken bipartisan election protections.

The NCSBE proposed settlement effectively guts the absentee witness requirement, extends the acceptance of all absentee ballots almost a week past the statutory deadline and weakens protections against ballot harvesting.

“This is an alarming abuse of power that seeks to upend the protections of our election by judicial fiat,” NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley said. “We will fight this naked attempt by national Democrats and Cooper’s cronies to abuse our judicial system in an attempt to change laws that they would not be able to pass through the democratic process. The integrity of our elections is paramount and must be defended.”