October 26, 2017 •
North Carolina Adjourns Special Session
The General Assembly adjourned on October 17, after finishing a special session convening on October 4. The General Assembly overrode Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 656, a bill canceling North Carolina’s judicial primaries next year. The Legislature will reconvene […]
The General Assembly adjourned on October 17, after finishing a special session convening on October 4.
The General Assembly overrode Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 656, a bill canceling North Carolina’s judicial primaries next year.
The Legislature will reconvene on January 10, 2018.
September 1, 2017 •
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns, Agrees to Reconvene in October
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on August 31 after finishing a two-week special session. Members voted on new legislative districts per court order and voted to override two vetoes by the governor. The Legislature will reconvene on October 4, […]
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on August 31 after finishing a two-week special session.
Members voted on new legislative districts per court order and voted to override two vetoes by the governor.
The Legislature will reconvene on October 4, 2017, to consider constitutional amendments, election regulations, and to draw new judicial districts.
August 10, 2017 •
North Carolina Changes Session Dates
The North Carolina General Assembly convened for a special session on August 3 to address unresolved conference reports and amend the previous adjournment resolution, cancelling a previously scheduled September 6 special session. Lawmakers will now convene on August 18 to […]
The North Carolina General Assembly convened for a special session on August 3 to address unresolved conference reports and amend the previous adjournment resolution, cancelling a previously scheduled September 6 special session.
Lawmakers will now convene on August 18 to address redistricting.
The change in session dates was needed after a federal three-judge panel ordered lawmakers to draw new legislative district maps by September 1.
August 4, 2017 •
No Special Elections for Redrawn North Carolina Districts
A panel of three federal judges ordered North Carolina lawmakers to draw new maps to eliminate racially gerrymandered districts by September 1, 2017. The judges also rejected a request for special elections to be held in March 2018 for redrawn […]
A panel of three federal judges ordered North Carolina lawmakers to draw new maps to eliminate racially gerrymandered districts by September 1, 2017.
The judges also rejected a request for special elections to be held in March 2018 for redrawn districts.
The next legislative elections will take place as regularly scheduled in November 2018.
July 25, 2017 •
North Carolina Elections Board to Remain Vacant Pending Legal Challenge
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that pending Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge of Senate Bill 68, which combines state elections and ethics boards, the new merged board can remain vacant. The boards merged in June into the state Board […]
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that pending Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge of Senate Bill 68, which combines state elections and ethics boards, the new merged board can remain vacant.
The boards merged in June into the state Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement after a three-judge panel ruled against the governor, but Cooper has yet to appoint any board members.
With local elections coming up in the fall, some county elections boards are finding themselves in tough positions awaiting appointments to fill seats left open due to resignations because the state board appoints county board members.
The case is scheduled for arguments at the Supreme Court on August 28.
July 6, 2017 •
North Carolina General Assembly Adjourns Session
On June 30, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned. The resolution to adjourn has lawmakers scheduled to reconvene in August and September. The session scheduled for August 3, 2017 will primarily address any veto overrides; however, the adjournment resolution grants […]
On June 30, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned. The resolution to adjourn has lawmakers scheduled to reconvene in August and September.
The session scheduled for August 3, 2017 will primarily address any veto overrides; however, the adjournment resolution grants lawmakers the ability to use the session to take up measures that got stuck in House and Senate negotiations in the final weeks of the regular session.
The September 6, 2017, session will mostly focus on redistricting.
The adjournment resolution also set the regular session to reconvene on May 16, 2018.
June 9, 2017 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Reject Call for Special Session
On June 8, North Carolina lawmakers voted to reject Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for a special concurrent session to redraw district voting maps. Lawmakers accuse Cooper of overstepping his constitutional authority to call special sessions in extraordinary circumstances in this […]
On June 8, North Carolina lawmakers voted to reject Gov. Roy Cooper’s call for a special concurrent session to redraw district voting maps.
Lawmakers accuse Cooper of overstepping his constitutional authority to call special sessions in extraordinary circumstances in this case because the General Assembly is already in session.
The rejected special session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 28 districts unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
Legislative leaders indicated they plan to wait for instructions from the courts before redrawing district maps.
June 8, 2017 •
Special Concurrent Session Called in North Carolina
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps. The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session. The special concurrent session comes after the […]
On June 7, Gov. Roy Cooper called a 14-day special session for North Carolina lawmakers to redraw district voting maps.
The session begins June 8 and will run concurrently with the regular session.
The special concurrent session comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 28 districts unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.
June 6, 2017 •
Supreme Court Rules North Carolina Districts Racially Gerrymandered; Remedial Special Election Vacated
On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that 28 state House and Senate Districts in North Carolina were racially gerrymandered, while also vacating the lower court’s order for a special election in 2017 for one-year […]
On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that 28 state House and Senate Districts in North Carolina were racially gerrymandered, while also vacating the lower court’s order for a special election in 2017 for one-year terms to address the issue.
The court ruled that the special election remedy was not properly analyzed by the lower court. The matter has been returned to the lower court, which could call another special election or order new districts in time for the regular cycle of elections in 2018.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes just two weeks after the court found two of the state’s U.S. Congressional districts to also be racially gerrymandered.
June 2, 2017 •
North Carolina Judges Dismiss Legal Challenge Against Elections and Ethics Boards Merger
On June 1, a three-judge panel unanimously dismissed Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68. Senate Bill 68 combines state elections and ethics boards, and became law when the House and Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s […]
On June 1, a three-judge panel unanimously dismissed Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68.
Senate Bill 68 combines state elections and ethics boards, and became law when the House and Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the bill.
A spokesman for the Democratic governor said shortly after the ruling that Cooper plans to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.
May 2, 2017 •
North Carolina Law to Merge Elections and Ethics Boards Put on Hold
On April 28, a three-judge panel issued an order in Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68 to put the law on hold until a further hearing on May 10. The new law to combine state elections and […]
On April 28, a three-judge panel issued an order in Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68 to put the law on hold until a further hearing on May 10.
The new law to combine state elections and ethics boards became law when the House and Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68.
Senate Bill 68 was a renewed effort to revamp the boards after a three-judge panel ruled that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 in 2016 to establish a similar bipartisan board to oversee elections and ethics.
April 25, 2017 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Override Veto; Elections and Ethics Boards to Merge
On April 25, lawmakers finalized efforts to combine state elections and ethics boards with both the House and Senate voting to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68. The bill merges the elections and ethics boards into a […]
On April 25, lawmakers finalized efforts to combine state elections and ethics boards with both the House and Senate voting to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68.
The bill merges the elections and ethics boards into a single board split evenly between political parties.
The merger of the boards under Senate Bill 68 comes after a three-judge panel ruled that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 to establish a similar bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.
April 5, 2017 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Make New Attempt at Combined Elections and Ethics Board
Lawmakers are back to work attempting to combine state elections and ethics boards after a three-judge panel ruled that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections […]
Lawmakers are back to work attempting to combine state elections and ethics boards after a three-judge panel ruled that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.
The House Elections Committee approved changes to Senate Bill 68 to remove the bill’s original content relating to school attendance, replacing it with a reworked proposal to create a Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement.
Senate Bill 68 would merge the elections and ethics boards, but the governor would be able to appoint all members from nominations made by North Carolina’s Republican and Democratic parties. The board would be split evenly between the two parties.
Senate Bill 68 is set for a floor vote in the House on April 5.
March 20, 2017 •
North Carolina Merger of State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission Ruled Unconstitutional
On March 17, a three-judge panel ruled that the North Carolina General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues. The ruling held […]
On March 17, a three-judge panel ruled that the North Carolina General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.
The ruling held that lawmakers violated the separation of powers in trying to take control over appointments in the governor’s administration.
Prior to Senate Bill 4, the State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission were separate entities and the governor had the power to appoint a majority from his own party to preside over elections. Lawmakers could appeal the decision.
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