Brianna Kraemer
Carolina Journal
The North Carolina House voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 382 on Monday in a 72-46 vote, officially making the legislation law in North Carolina.
The legislation allocates $227 million for disaster relief in western North Carolina, putting state aid to the region now at over $1 billion within three legislative bills. However, it also includes major changes to state government powers as Republicans prepare to lose their supermajority in 2025.
Key provisions include reallocating control over the State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and transferring this authority to the state auditor, who will be Republican Dave Boliek in January.
“Let’s get this done,” said Dudley Greene, R-Mitchell. “Let’s quit arguing over the politics of it. As you say, Represenative Hager, western North Carolina needs the help. Let’s get it for them.”
Demonstrators showed up at the legislative building hours ahead of the vote to protest the bill. Critics have argued the bill is a power grab that doesn’t do enough for western North Carolina, while making significant shifts in authority within the executive branch.
“This legislation was titled disaster relief, but instead violates the Constitution by taking appointments away from the next governor, for the board of elections, utilities commissions and commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, letting political parties choose appellate judges and interfering with the Attorney General’s ability to advocate for lower electrical bills for consumers,” Cooper said in his veto message just weeks ago.
The bill also eliminates the positions of two Democrat judges in Wake and Forsyth Counties and replaces them with two new special Superior Court judgeships appointed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
The Senate overrode the veto in a 30-19 vote last Monday along party lines after a brief recess due to loud disruptions from protestors.
The House also passed a constitutional amendment proposal to require photo identification for all voters in North Carolina. Legislators explained that while state law already requires photo ID for absentee voting, the amendment would just conform the state constitution to current state law.
The House voted 73-45 to pass Senate Bill 921, after the Senate approved the measure in a 30-19 vote last week.
During a committee meeting before the floor vote, Rep. Grey Mills, R-Iredell, said the bill is straightforward and does exactly what the title says. He explained that it clarified the voter ID law for for in person and absentee voters.
Democrats critical of the effort called it an unnecessary constitutional amendment and said it could confuse people and stifle people from wanting to use mail in ballots. They also asserted that not everyone has access to make a copy of their ID.
Polls indicate North Carolina voters support the stricter voter ID amendment by a 41-point margin, with 70% in favor and just 29% opposed.
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