BREAKING: Democrat-Only NCSBE Commands Counties Follow Illegal Absentee Procedures | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     Late last night, merely hours before the review of absentee ballots began, the North Carolina State Board of Elections sent out an email commanding that county boards comply with Director Bell's illegal, unconstitutional memos or be fired.

    To make matters worse, the 100 percent Democratic-controlled NCSBE is pushing this sham guidance out while Governor Roy Cooper has thus far refused to appoint any of the Republican nominees submitted to him four days ago.

    The Bipartisan Election Act of 2020 requires at least one witness on an absentee ballot, but Director Bell's illegal memo eviscerates that safeguard by allowing someone to be their own alibi and simply submit a form rather than finding a witness. Director Bell also instructs County Boards to extend the date for receipt of absentee ballots to nine days after the election — something she has no authority to do and that no judge has approved.

    The not so subtle threat from the NCSBE that they hold the power to "remove" county BOE members for nothing more than following the duly enacted laws passed by the elected members of the General Assembly is simply astounding. This is a thinly veiled power-play attempt by Democrats to pressure County BOE members into following their guidance rather than the law.

    County BOE members swore a duty to follow the law. They swore no allegiance to the NCSBE or Director Bell. The people of North Carolina deserve a fair and impartial election process and should demand that the NCSBE and Governor Cooper stop attempting to put their thumbs on the scale.

    "This brazen lawlessness the night before county boards start reviewing absentee ballot returns is the worst-case scenario for election integrity," said NCGOP Press Secretary Tim Wigginton. "Democrat Governor Roy Cooper has been litigating for partisan control over the election machinery since before he took office, and now his handpicked cronies are violating the law in an attempt to deliver the election to him, all while Cooper ignores his duty to appoint Republican members to the NCSBE."

    Cooper not only litigated for a partisan board, but he also campaigned against the constitutional amendment to make the State Board of Elections Bi-Partisan. After gaining partisan control of the Board, they fired the well respected Executive Director because her husband was a Republican. Then Morgan Jackson, the top consultant for Cal Cunningham and Roy Cooper, signed off on the new executive director before she was hired. This corrupt stew of nonsense is Governor Cooper's mess, and he refuses to clean it up.

• Contact: Tim Wigginton
•     communications@ncgop.org