Civil rights organizations held a press conference on June 17 in opposition to a broad proposal electoral changes in North Carolina.
La HB 958 It would change the voter registration process, prohibit election officials from promoting voter participation, increase politically appointed positions on the State Board of Elections, and expand the role of the state auditor in investigating election processes, among other changes.
The initiative was presented at the North Carolina General Assembly by the Republican representatives Hugh Blackwell y Sarah Stevens, along with other co-sponsors.
Legislative process
The press conference was held one day after the measure was removed from the agenda of the House Rules and Operations Committee.
Opponents attributed this decision to public pressure and concerns raised regarding several provisions of the bill.
“I firmly believe that the power of the people can get politicians, if they try hard enough, to listen and slow down a damaging and anti-voter bill,” said Brooks Fuller, policy director at Common Cause.
The bill may be reconsidered in the House Rules Committee in the future scheduled sessions Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Impact on naturalized voters
Miroslava Colan, director of Policy and Activism at North Carolina and Americans Together, pointed out changes that would affect naturalized people. That is, U.S. citizens who obtained citizenship after being born in another country.
The measure, he explained, would require additional checks of their status in state and federal databases. In some cases, they might have to provide additional documentation if their naturalization cannot be automatically confirmed.
“These are restrictions that harm democracy and the possibility of holding free and fair elections,” Colan said. He also criticized provisions that would allow the collection and sharing of data, such as Social Security numbers, with federal authorities.
Related: Why can new naturalized citizens define elections in North Carolina?
State auditor gains new electoral powers
The bill grants Republican state auditor Dave Boliek the authority to conduct post-general election audits in selected counties at his discretion, once the election has been certified.
The audits may review voter lists, voting equipment, absentee and provisional ballots, chain of custody records, voter registration maintenance processes, and compliance with the electoral laws state and federal.
Although the auditor may expand the scope of the reviews, the project states that the findings may not be used to challenge or alter the already certified election results.
The counties, the State Board of Elections, and the Department of Transportation must facilitate access to the materials, equipment, and records necessary for the audits and, if errors or failures are found, submit corrective plans.
Changes to military and overseas voting
The project also reviews provisions related to the military and overseas citizen vote, adjusting eligibility and documentation requirements for certain voters.
The legislation authorizes requiring documentation that confirms a prior connection to North Carolina, such as prior residency in the state.
The project also adjusts the deadlines for sending, receiving, and processing military and overseas voter ballots, modifying the administrative schedules that govern mail-in voting in these categories.
Related: Federal courts uphold North Carolina voting laws: photo ID and removal of returned mail records
Candidate eligibility
The legislation increases the requirement of affiliation with a political party to run in a party primary from 90 to 365 days.
The change includes an exception that allows state party committees to grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.
Changes in campaign financing
The proposal adjusts several thresholds of Disclosure and registration of contributions:
- It raises the threshold for reporting certain minor expenses and donations from $50 to $100.
- Increase the limit for contributions made in cash or through verifiable methods.
- Increases the threshold for accelerated reporting of contributions received near an election or referendum from $1,000 to $2,000.
It also reduces certain identification requirements for small donations and adjusts the rules on how minor expenses are recorded in official reports.
La State Board of Elections It would retain the authority to update some thresholds based on inflation.
Mandatory use of the federal census for districts
The bill requires counties, cities, and school boards to use only data from the decennial federal census when establishing or adjusting district boundaries, and prohibits the use of alternative population estimates.
The measure allows changes in districts only to reflect territorial annexations or exclusions or to correct population imbalances identified by the federal census.
It also states that district boundaries cannot be revised again until the publication of a new decennial federal census, except to comply with court orders or territorial changes.
Other provisions
The project also includes:
- Adjustments to the rules for counting provisional and absentee ballots, especially in large counties.
- Changes in the procedures for notifying and correcting ballots with deficiencies.
- Modifications to the audit requirements for election results by random sampling.
- Adjustments to the use of census data for redistricting.
Entry into force
Different parts of the project would come into effect between December 2026 and January 2027. While other provisions would begin to apply immediately once they become law.
The project continues its legislative process and could be modified before a final vote.
You may be interested: Durham City Council approves budget with funding for community organizations
They are calling for a demonstration
Nonprofit organizations announced they will hold a rally on Monday, June 22 at 5 pm at the Halifax Mall in Raleigh.
The organizers stated that the goal is to maintain public attention on the project and broaden citizen participation in the legislative debate.
“The most important thing North Carolina residents can do is raise their voices and vote,” Fuller said. “We must protect our neighbors, our friends, and our communities whose votes they are trying to suppress.”
The groups indicated that they will continue organizing throughout the rest of the legislative session, as long as the bill remains pending.
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