On Thursday, the North Carolina House Committee on Election Law approved a new version of House Bill 958, which proposes significant changes to voting and elections in the state. The bill was introduced on Wednesday night and quickly brought before the committee on Thursday morning. The approval process lasted only 30 minutes, with limited discussion and no opportunity for public comment.
The timeline for when the full North Carolina House of Representatives will consider the bill remains uncertain.
Ann Webb, Policy Director with Common Cause North Carolina, expressed concern over the process. “Today, leadership of the NC House Elections Committee failed the people of North Carolina,” Webb stated. She criticized the rapid approval of the bill without meaningful debate or public input.
The proposed legislation includes several controversial provisions. One provision could introduce political favoritism into staffing decisions at the State Board of Elections, potentially compromising its impartiality and professionalism. Another provision would prohibit election board members from encouraging voter participation, which Webb described as a violation of free speech and contrary to the role of election boards.
Additional changes in the bill would reduce transparency by weakening campaign donation reporting requirements and impose new requirements on military and overseas voters. Webb emphasized that these significant changes require thorough discussion and public involvement, which were not permitted during this process.
Common Cause NC is a nonpartisan grassroots organization focused on maintaining American democracy’s core values by promoting open and accountable government and empowering citizens to participate in politics.
