The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 2, 2025
We’re in North Carolina today with updates on the partisan attempt to overturn the 2024 state supreme court election, and the legislature’s attempt to strip the governor’s power to appoint the state election board.
It’s now been six months since Judge Jefferson Griffin contested his 734 vote loss in the North Carolina Supreme Court race, complaining that 65,000 voters were ineligible.
The state Supreme Court allowed 60,000 of those voter registrations to stand, but also allowed 5,000 of those voters to be scrutinized. It gave 30 days for just over a thousand military and overseas voters to fix their registrations. A federal appeals court ruled April 22nd to stay that order until further review. Pro-voter groups say a federal court precedent of disqualifying voters AFTER the election would greenlight more partisan efforts to overturn elections.
April 30th, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld a 2024 bill, stripping the governor’s power to appoint the state board of elections and transferring it to the state auditor, a Republican. The bare-knuckle provision was embedded in a hurricane relief bill, passed only weeks before the new Democratic governor, Josh Stein, took office. Former Governor Roy Cooper called the provision “a sham” and unconstitutional. It’s likely to be challenged in the North Carolina Supreme Court.
We have more on both these North Carolina cases at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – Partisan Saga of North Carolina’s 2024 Supreme Court Race Now Returns to Federal Court. 5,000 Military & Overseas Ballots at Risk of InvalidationNC Newsline – US appeals court pauses NC elections board action in the Supreme Court election case
U.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) – Stay in Griffin v. North Carolina State Board of Elections
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Before it Loses its Supermajority, the North Carolina Legislature Strips Election Powers from Its Governor, Bans AG from Opposing the Legislature. Will the House Override the Veto?
Courthouse News Service – (2024) North Carolina Republicans successfully strip power from incoming Democrats
Courthouse News Service – North Carolina court grants control of elections boards to state auditor
Groups Taking Action:
Democracy North Carolina, League of Women Voters NC
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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