My bet is on the budget option. That presents Gov. Stein with a tougher choice on whether to veto the bill.
After so much talk about the missing budget, it could be bad optics for Stein to veto it. But if he signs it, he would be accepting a less-than-ideal bill in his eyes.
ICYMI: A wide-ranging elections bill in the works for over a year got a committee hearing yesterday, a key step on the way to final passage.
Its fate is unclear, though. With 2.5 weeks left of session & a 10-day veto period, the runway is short.
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carolinapublicpress.org/75913/tons-o...
Sarah Michels
Sarah Michels
After NC Senate leader Phil Berger narrowly lost his primary election to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, he had a few takeaways.
One was that the early voting period was too long.
I talked to election directors about proposals to cut EV days.
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carolinapublicpress.org/75881/early-...
Yesterday, Speaker Destin Hall said he thought the House would vote on the bill today & send it along to the Senate.
It doesn't look like that's the case anymore, since the bill has not made the required journey through Rules before hitting the floor.
The House is allegedly not meeting tomorrow.
NC currently has 17 early voting days.
Some of the proposals would cut primary EV days, while others would cut general EV days. Some cut to a week, some to 10 days. The primary bill seems more likely to move in the last few weeks of session.
Bill sponsor Rep. Hugh Blackwell is working behind the scenes with some Democratic lawmakers to find compromise on some lingering issues.
TBD on whether those changes will end up in the final House bill or make it through the Senate
Election directors shared their thoughts on whether these changes would help with poll worker recruitment and their budgets, and what impact it might have on the remaining EV period and Election Day voting.
Regardless of what lawmakers decide, they said they will be prepared.
Plus, the Senate is likely to amend the bill, which adds more steps to the process.
Unless lawmakers meet later this week, I don't see how the math works out.
Either (a) lawmakers return after July 4 holiday to override Gov. Stein's inevitable veto (b) it's added to the budget (c) it doesn't pass
Legislation to ax NC early voting days in primary and general elections in various ways is under discussion, but the outcome is uncertain.
A wide-ranging North Carolina election bill seemed headed for passage at lightning speed Tuesday morning in Raleigh. But now, it’s stopped in its tracks.
I learned why.
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carolinapublicpress.org/75932/negoti...
Sarah Michels
carolinapublicpress.org
Final version of NC omnibus elections bill and if it could survive a veto remain to be seen. Proposals include wide range of measures.
