North Carolina judges weigh governor’s challenge to changes for elections boards

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A panel of North Carolina judges weighed arguments Wednesday on whether a new law that transfers Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s powers to choose election board members to the now Republican-controlled legislature should be struck down or can be enforced.

The same three trial judges already sided in late November with Cooper and blocked the new structures for the State Board of Elections and boards in all 100 counties from taking effect with the new year while his lawsuit continued. That preliminary injunction is still in place. The judges didn’t immediately rule Wednesday on additional motions to resolve the case.

Attorneys for Cooper now want a more permanent decision declaring that the 2023 changes are unconstitutional by interfering with a governor’s duties to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” within an executive branch agency. Republican legislators want the lawsuit dismissed so the changes can be implemented in time for the November elections.

For over 100 years, the state elections board has had five members appointed by the governor, and the governor’s party holds three of the seats.

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