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North Carolina Republican lawmakers voted to strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers, passing a sweeping bill before the GOP likely loses their veto-proof supermajority in the Legislature next year. That power currently lies with the governor's office, which will remain in Democratic hands after Attorney General Josh Stein defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Republicans have long sought control of the state Board of Elections, which is historically controlled by the same party as the current governor, but their past efforts have been foiled by the courts. That means they would be unable to override any future vetos from Stein without Democratic support. Stein is succeeding outgoing Cooper, whose administration repeatedly clashed with the Republican-led Legislature in the battleground state.

Persons: Dave Boliek, Jessica Holmes, Josh Stein, Mark Robinson, Roy Cooper's, ”, Karen Brinson Bell, Jeff Jackson, Stein, Cooper Organizations: North, North Carolina Republican, Democratic, GOP, Republican, Gov, Republicans, Democratic Gov, Board, State Board, North Carolina Legislature Locations: North Carolina, Stein

“I have a plan and strategy,” Ivan Raiklin, a former Green Beret and political operative who has close ties to associates of Trump, told a group of Pennsylvania activists earlier this month. Four years ago, Trump’s unsuccessful efforts to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden didn’t truly materialize until after the election. Brian Snyder/ReutersBut this time around, MAGA activists have been planning to undermine a potential Harris victory well in advance of the election, with some even arguing that state legislators should simply ignore the election results and award electoral votes to Trump by default. “Those looking to overturn the election are way ahead of where they were in 2020,” said Harris. Trump himself has echoed some of the conspiracy theories pushed by his supporters, suggesting that election fraud is rampant in 2024.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, –, Kamala Harris, “, Ivan Raiklin, Trump, Ford Fischer, News2Share, Harris, Joe Biden didn’t, Brian Snyder, MAGA, ” Marc Harris, CNN he’s, ”, Emerald Robinson, ” Patrick Byrne, Greg Locke, Kamala, ” Locke, ” Joe Hoft, Steve Bannon, They’ve, Jamie Raskin, Axios, Raskin, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, ” Lara Trump, ” Karoline Leavitt, Andy Harris, Hurricane Helene, disenfranchise, Mike Pence, Raiklin, Mark Finchem, ” Noel Fritsch, ” Fritsch, Fritsch, Karen Brinson Bell, Derek Muller, “ It’s, ” Muller, there’s, Michael Flynn, Flynn, Donald Trump, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Donald ”, denialism, Devin Burghart, Pastor Mark Burns of, ” Burns, Burns Organizations: CNN, Green Beret, Trump, Freedom, Reuters, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Intelligence, Capitol, Democratic, Democratic Maryland Rep, GOP Georgia, Capitol Police, Republican National Committee, Team Trump, RNC, White, Caucus, Republican, University of Notre Dame, Washington DC, Getty, Colorado’s Department of Public Safety, Property, Global, Institute for Research, Human Rights, America Locations: America, Greeley , Pennsylvania, Tennessee, United States of America, North Carolina, Hurricane, Arizona, Florida, Raiklin, Washington, AFP, Pastor Mark Burns of South Carolina, United States

☆ House Freedom Caucus chair suggests North Carolina Legislature could assign electors before votes are tallied
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Curt Devine | Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“With North Carolina, I mean, it’s legitimate. And despite concerns that hurricane damage could suppress turnout in Western North Carolina, state data suggests that voters have not been widely disenfranchised. And on Wednesday, the day before Raiklin’s presentation, USPS put out a statement stating that all North Carolina processing facilities and most retail locations are open. North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry told reporters Friday, “It makes no sense whatsoever to prejudge the election outcome and that is a misinformed view of what is happening on the ground in North Carolina. Bless his heart.”And National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, who is also from North Carolina said candidates should focus on turning out the vote.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Andy Harris, ” Harris, Ivan Raiklin, Raiklin, Harris ’, ” Raiklin, Harris, I’ve, “ What’s, ”, Karen Brinson Bell, Patrick McHenry, Richard Hudson, “, Andy, Let’s, ” Hudson, Kamala Harris, Joe Morelle, …, Mike Pence Organizations: CNN, Caucus, Trump, North, Republican, North Carolina Rep, Administration, “ Extreme Republican, Capitol Locations: North Carolina, Western North Carolina, Hurricane, Maryland, America, North, New York

☆ What to know about early voting in Georgia and North Carolina
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Sara Murray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Two critical battleground states – Georgia and North Carolina – are kicking off early in-person voting this week. In Georgia, voters can head to the ballot box beginning on Tuesday and in North Carolina, early in-person voting begins on Thursday. “I don’t want to discourage people from using drop boxes by any means, but I can see why people would think it’s easier to show up in person.”Meanwhile, the opportunities to vote early in-person have expanded: Georgia law mandates two Saturdays of early voting and allows for two Sundays of early voting if a county desires. When it comes to early voting sites, the 25 western counties most impacted by Helene had planned for 80 early voting sites. “In this day and age, everyone’s taking selfies, even people in the boomer generation like me,” Phillips from Common Cause North Carolina said.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, ”, Kristin Nabers, Larry David, –, Donald Trump, Helene, “, Bob Phillips, I’m, ” Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, ” Phillips, That’s, CNN’s Tierney Sneed Organizations: CNN, State, Carolina, State Board, North Carolina State Board Locations: Georgia, North Carolina, Hurricane, Both Georgia

County election officials in Florida, meanwhile, are facing a potential new challenge after Hurricane Milton made landfall on its western coast late Wednesday. Other county election offices in the state similarly said this week that that they would perform fresh assessments of their election infrastructure following Milton. Chris O'Meara/AP David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday. “We should have the most poll workers we’ve ever had here in Oconee County,” said Ryan Nowland, assistant director of Oconee County elections.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, “ I’ve, ”, Mary Beth Tipton, “ We’ve, ” Tipton, Yancey County, Hurricane Milton, “, ” Brian Corley, Milton, Robert Inman, Inman, Cliff Marr, Marr, ” Marr, Helene, Karen Brinson Bell, Bell, Corinne Duncan, Duncan, ” Duncan, Christopher Heath, Ron DeSantis, Corley, Bill Nye, CNN Kari Ewalt, Osceola, ” Ewalt, they’re, Conway Belangia, I’ve, Belangia, Connie Gore, Cecelia Smith, Crystal Vander, Miguel J, Rodriguez Carrillo, Robert Turick, Turick, Rebecca Blackwell, Cristobal Herrera, Julio Cortez, Giorgio Viera, Ricardo Arduengo, Liz Kelly, Matt, Andrew West, Chandan Khanna, Nadia Zomorodian, Austin, Joe Raedle, Sean Rayford, Marta Lavandier, Jefferee Woo, Bryan R, Smith, Chris Urso, Marco Bello, Brandon Marlow, Marie Cook, Bill Ingram, Reuters Stephen Lundgren, Doug Engle, Ron Rook, Paul Hennessy, Saul Martinez, Payton Wyse, Andrew Goncharsky, Christian Burke, Lee, Connor Ferran, Fort Myers, Nicolette Mariano, Kaila Jones, Damon Higgins, Ted Carlson, McKenzie, Evan Purcell, Purcell's, Anna Maria Island, Carlson, Yamil Lage, Matthew Dominick, NASA Aurelio Ortiz, Lorenzo Hernandez, Mike Carlson, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Reuters John Fedor, Chris O'Meara, David Jalving, Pete, Octavio Jones, Tristan Wheelock, Gerald, Martin Zetina, Gregg Newton, ” Belangia, we’ve, Ryan Nowland, “ We’re, everyone’s Organizations: CNN, Trump, Hurricane, “ Communications, Republican, Republican Gov, Voters, Osceola County’s, South, USA, AFP, Getty, AP, Daytona, Network, Reuters, Bradenton, Tropicana, Major League, Tampa Bay Rays, Celtic Ray Public, Tampa Bay Times, NOAA, Vanguard, School, Ocala, Orlando International Airport, Anadolu, Disney, Fort, Palm Beach Daily, Florida Army National Guard, Tampa General Hospital, NASA, International, Milton, Tampa International Airport, Bloomberg, AP Contractors, New Port Richey, AP Tropicana Locations: Carolina, Hurricane, North Carolina’s Yancey County, Yancey, Florida, Florida’s Pasco County, North Carolina, North Carolina’s, Haywood County, North Carolina’s Polk County, ”, Buncombe County, Asheville, Covid, Orange County, Milton, Pasco County, South Carolina, Greenville County, ” County, Martin County , Florida, Port St Lucie , Florida, Englewood , Florida, Manasota Key, Hurricane Milton, Venice , Florida, Riverview , Florida, Lakewood Park , Florida, Siesta Key, Punta Gorda , Florida, North Fort Myers , Florida, Siesta, Volusia, South Daytona , Florida, Bradenton Beach, St . Petersburg, Punta Gorda, Odessa , Florida, Venice, Matlacha , Florida, Palmetto Beach, Tampa, Bradenton , Florida, St . Petersburg , Florida, Clearwater, AFP, Sarasota , Florida, Segundo, Davis, Fort Myers , Florida, Wellington , Florida, Palm, Ocala , Florida, County, Wellington, Orlando, Gulfport , Florida, Lee County, Fort Myers, Sebastian , Florida, Palm Beach , Florida, Palm Beach, Havana, Cuba, Celestún, Mexico, Port Richey , Florida, Tampa Bay, Treasure Island , Florida, St, Pete Beach , Florida, Treasure, Fort Myers Beach, Progreso, New Port, Kissimmee , Florida, Pickens County, Oconee County, Oconee

North Carolina’s election board voted Monday to give residents in the western part of the state, which was hit hardest by Hurricane Helene, greater flexibility to vote by mail and run their elections. Previously, voters were limited to dropping absentee ballots off at the board of elections or early voting sites in their counties. Some of the planned voting sites are being used as shelters and warehouses for incoming sites, state officials said, while others were damaged or made inaccessible by the storm. The state’s voter registration deadline of Friday was not extended. South Carolina extended its voter registration deadline to Oct. 14, while Georgia officials say election operations are expected to continue smoothly.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Voters, State Board, Florida Gov, Associated Press Locations: Carolina, Georgia

CNN —Election officials in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida are working quickly to ensure voters can still securely cast early ballots, despite the devastating storm impacts of Hurricane Helene that have in some cases left them without power, water and cell service. He also plans to request extending early voting until Election Day, since typically in Florida early voting goes until the Sunday before. In North Carolina, Bell is considering working with state emergency management and the North Carolina National Guard to set up temporary polling places if needed. “All of those ballots have tracking… North Carolina uses it to the fullest,” Mann said. Bell added that the state’s tracking system, BallotTrax, can help North Carolina voters determine where their ballot may be and whether it was lost in transit.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Travis Doss, Jr, Doss, ”, Karen Brinson Bell, “, ” Travis Hart, Bell, We’ve, ” Bell, Hart, Florida’s, Ian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Dorian, “ We’ll, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Chris Mann, ” Mann, Mann, Paul Cox Organizations: CNN, Richmond County, North Carolina State Board, US Postal Service, “, Hurricane, North Carolina National Guard, National Guard, Georgia’s, Election Innovation, Research Locations: Georgia , North Carolina, Florida, Hurricane, Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, North Carolina, Hyde County, “, North, Carolina

Hurricane Helene has caused significant disruptions for election officials in North Carolina and across the Southeast, scrambling preparations for early and mail voting that have been in the works for months. North Carolina officials mailed 190,000 ballots last week, some of which may be delayed or destroyed by flooding. Early in-person voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 17 across more than 400 locations in North Carolina. North Carolina is among the core battleground states former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are competing in this fall. The area of North Carolina hit by the hurricane tends to lean Republican politically, aside from Democrat-heavy Asheville.

Persons: Helene, Karen Brinson Bell, ” Brinson Bell, Corinne Duncan, Brinson Bell, Gerry Cohen, ” Cohen, . Cohen, they’re, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cohen, — haven’t, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Robert Sinner, TJ Lundeen, Doug Kufner, “ Organizations: North, State Board, “, Wake County, Democrat, South Carolina, Commission Locations: North Carolina, Buncombe County, Wake, Wake County, Raleigh, Carolina, Asheville, Florida , Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Jenkins

☆ Election experts raise alarms about vote counting delays in battleground states
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | Sara Murray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Election observers worry that delays in counting mail ballots could give the public a false sense of who’s winning the election. In Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, election officials are still barred from beginning to process mail ballots before 7 a.m. on Election Day – even though election workers in both states have clamored for change. Georgia's State Election Board members discuss proposals for election rule changes at the State Capitol in Atlanta on September 20, 2024. The new law could delay by an hour or more – depending on the county – the posting of unofficial early results, state election officials have said. In Maricopa County, the general election ballot covers both sides of two pages – twice the length of the ballot voters encountered four years ago.

Persons: CNN —, Seth Bluestein, Ann Jacobs, “, Al Schmidt, Donald Trump, Chris McGrath, Joe Biden, Donald Trump baselessly, Rudy Giuliani, Biden, Trump, ” Jacobs, parroting, Daniel Acker, ” Schmidt, ”, Jacobs, David Becker, Sen, Jeremy Moss, Moss, Mike Stewart, Harris, “ It’s, Karen Brinson Bell, I’ll, won’t, Robyn Beck, Stephen Richer, ” Richer, Katie Hobbs, Jennifer Liewer, Liewer, “ We’ve, ” CNN’s Ethan Cohen, Marshall Cohen, Jason Morris Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Keystone State, ” Police, Philadelphia Convention Center, White, Democratic Milwaukee, Biden, Wisconsin State Assembly, Trump, Reuters, ”, Workers, US, Department, Election Innovation, Research, National Conference of State Legislatures, Democratic Detroit, Capitol, Michigan Senate, State Capitol, North Carolina State Board, Getty, Republicans, Gov, Democrat Locations: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, “, Wisconsin, Georgia, Keystone, Democratic, Kenosha , Wisconsin, Michigan, Detroit, Atlanta, North Carolina, Phoenix, AFP, Arizona, Maricopa County, Maricopa

CNN —Suspicious packages were sent this week to election offices in more than 20 states, leading to an FBI investigation, triggering evacuations and rattling staff, according to a CNN survey of state offices and Associated Press reporting. Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, told CNN that that the battleground state was also targeted this week. Officials in Kansas and New York said in statements and interviews that, after the letters were noticed, they evacuated their offices. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a series of suspicious mailings sent to election officials in several states,” the FBI said in a statement. A source involved with a group that coordinates with election officials across the country told CNN the 2023 incident led many of these offices to step up precautions and safety measures, so they were better protected this time around.

Persons: Brad Raffensperger, “ We’re, ” Raffensperger, Karen Brinson Bell, Bell, ” Bell, “, ” David Becker, ” Becker, Democrats ”, ” Organizations: CNN, Associated Press, US Postal Service, North Carolina State Board, Election Innovation, Research, Democrats, FBI, U.S . Postal, Service Locations: Alaska , Arizona , California , Colorado , Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Mississippi , Missouri , Nebraska , New York, North Carolina , Ohio , Oklahoma, Rhode Island , Tennessee, Wyoming, Fulton County, Kentucky, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma, Takoma Park , Maryland

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Battleground state election officials from both parties are pushing back against a falsehood that has proven pervasive ahead of the 2024 reaction: that noncitizens are voting in widespread numbers. The comments came as former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies have talked up efforts to crack down on noncitizens voting, which is already illegal. Maricopa County has sued seeking clarity on whether those voters can vote in state and local elections this fall. Republicans at the national and state level have fueled unfounded noncitizen voting claims in the run-up to this year's presidential election. Election officials said Thursday they were taking steps to debunk conspiracy theories ahead of the 2024 election.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, ”, Al Schmidt, Schmidt, they’re, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, ” Benson, —, Bob Bauer, Ben Ginsberg, Brad Raffensperger, ” Raffensperger, we’re, Mike Johnson, Ken Paxton, they're, it's, Karen Brinson Bell, It's, Stephen Richer, Katie Hobbs, Richer, Kim Pytleski Organizations: GOP, Department of Transportation, The, Republican, Republicans, Texas, Arizona Gov Locations: Mich, —, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Michigan, American, Arizona, Maricopa County, Georgia, Oconto County , Wisconsin

☆ RFK Jr. off North Carolina presidential ballot, state Supreme Court rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Josephine Rozzelle | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name must be removed from North Carolina's November ballot, the state's Supreme Court ordered. The 4-3 decision by North Carolina's high court came hours after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Kennedy's name had to stay on that state's ballot over his objections. In all three states, Trump polls better in a two-candidate race than he does in a six-candidate race. The state Supreme Court ruling acknowledged "that expediting the process of printing new ballots will require considerable time and effort by our election officials and significant expense to the State." "But our election officials are professionals, and I have no doubt we will rise to the challenge," Bell said.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump, Harris, Kennedy, Trey Allen, Allen, Trey, Anita Earls, Allison Riggs, Richard Deitz, Karen Brinson Bell, Bell Organizations: Libertarian Party's, Democratic, . North Carolina, Electoral, North, Michigan Supreme, Trump, White, Republican, U.S . Department of Defense Locations: Washington , U.S, North, Harris, North Carolina, RealClearPolling, ., Wisconsin, Carolina

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s cybersecurity agency has launched a program aimed at boosting election security in the states, shoring up support for local offices and hoping to provide reassurance to voters that this year's presidential elections will be safe and accurate. Officials with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency planned to introduce its new election security adviser program Thursday to the National Association of State Election Directors and on Friday to the National Association of Secretaries of State. For state and local election officials, the list of security challenges keeps growing. The CISA program includes 10 new hires, all of whom join the federal agency with extensive election experience. CISA Director Jen Easterly announced plans for the program at a July meeting of the state election directors in South Carolina.

Persons: Jen, Cait Conley, ” Conley, Keith Ingram, Spencer Wood, David Stafford, “, ”, Lori Augino, CISA, Al Schmidt, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Security Agency, National Association of State, National Association of, State, Ohio, State’s, North Carolina State Board Locations: New Hampshire, Fulton County , Georgia, Russia, South Carolina, Texas, Escambia County , Florida, Washington, ”, “

☆ A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A wave of departures by election officials in key states risks adding new stress to the nation’s election system ahead of next year’s presidential contest, voting rights groups and several state election chiefs warn. The growing alarm over the resignations and retirements comes as officials say election workers continue to face a barrage of threats and harassment and partisan interference in their duties, first ignited by false claims of a stolen White House election in 2020. In King County, Washington – which includes Seattle – Julie Wise, the county election director, recalled receiving a letter over the summer with a rant about elections. Election watchdogs say more action is needed – including boosting federal funding and extending a federal law that criminalizes the release of restricted personal information about federal workers to cover election officials. Brinson Bell began tracking the departures when she became the state’s election chief that year.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Adrian Fontes, Pennsylvania –, Republican Al Schmidt, “, Nick Penniman, Schmidt, Donald Trump’s, ” Schmidt, Seattle – Julie Wise, Wise, ’, ” Penniman, Meagan Wolfe, Trump, Wolfe, there’s, Roy Cooper, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Kathy Holland, Holland, –, Brinson, ” Adam Byrnes, he’s, ” Byrnes, Fontes, ” Fontes, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, US Justice Department, National Conference of State Legislatures, Committee, ” Workers, GOP, supermajorities, Gov, North Carolina State Board, Emory University, “ Locations: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, King County , Washington, Seattle, In Wisconsin, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alamance County, Swain County, Georgia

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans enacted vote-count restrictions and weakened the governor's ability to oversee elections and other state regulatory bodies on Tuesday by overriding Democratic Gov. But Cooper and his allies contend the election legislation is an attack on voting that will give Republicans the upper hand on close results. The state elections board has been five members, with the governor’s party historically holding three of the seats. The law says the new state board also would have barely a week to decide whether to keep current state elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell on the job or hire someone else. And an energy bill designed to encourage nuclear energy production and the legislature’s annual “regulatory reform” measure also are now law.

Persons: Roy Cooper's, Cooper, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Phil Berger, Brinson Bell —, —, Marc Elias, Tuesday’s Organizations: — North, — North Carolina Republicans, Democratic, State Board, Republican, Democrat, Republican Party, White, Trump, North, North Carolina GOP, Republicans Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North Carolina, North Carolina, U.S, Carolina

WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - North Carolina officials have registered 14 instances of potential intimidation or interference with voters and election officials in the run-up to Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, according to records provided to Reuters on Friday. Incident reports released to Reuters on Friday show that the North Carolina State Board of Elections is tracking eight instances of potential voter intimidation, one of potential voter interference and five of potential interference with election workers during early voting. Arizona late last month asked the Justice Department to investigate a case of possible voter intimidation, and officials there have since said they have observed several more possible instances of intimidation. Most of the North Carolina incidents, which were described in only general terms, involved photographing, videotaping or yelling at voters and officials, the reports show. North Carolina officials noted unusually aggressive observers during May's primary election in 16 counties.

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