Election Law Changes Storming Through Raleigh
House Republicans are moving forward with a sweeping elections bill this week.
Huge congrats to the Carolina Hurricanes on winning their first Stanley Cup in 20 years! Thanks to their win in Las Vegas on Sunday, I’ll be saving a sizable chunk of change on Game 7 tickets that would’ve stressfully placed me 25 rows behind the home bench.
I’ll be cheering on the team at their victory parade at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Raleigh!
While reporters are sadly prohibited from wearing a Hurricanes jersey on the floor of the House and the Senate, I’m not aware of any restrictions on such attire in hallways or committee hearings. So I don’t imagine it’ll be very hard to miss me around the General Assembly today.
One bill is going to be generating a lot of attention this week, so we’re going to focus the bulk of today’s newsletter on that item. But before we get to that, The Assembly is holding an event later this month that will likely be of interest to Caucus readers.
In less than a month, America celebrates its 250th anniversary. The Assembly and America’s Future are hosting a conversation to explore what it means to be an American and North Carolinian today. Join us on Tuesday, June 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Fullsteam ATC in downtown Durham.
Panelists include:
Devin Duncan, UNC-Chapel Hill Student Body President
Kathleen Duval, Professor of History at UNC-Chapel Hill
Leslie Garvin, Executive Director, NC Campus Engagement
Mark Martin, Founding Dean and Professor of Law at High Point University
Christie Norris, Director of Education, Department of Natural & Cultural Resources
This event is free, but seats are limited. Register here.
Roll Call
1. Diving into a 36-page elections bill
2. Rep. Sarah Stevens’ last day in office
3. Big week in NC sports
Seasons Change
State House Republicans are scheduled to advance a sweeping bill through a pair of committees on Tuesday that would make a number of changes to state election laws if enacted. The public can weigh in on the measure through an online comment portal here.
House floor votes are expected later this week or next week, after which the bill would still need to go to the Senate.
Here’s what you need to know about House Bill 958:
Never Residents: As part of his unsuccessful effort to overturn his defeat in the 2024 state Supreme Court race, Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin falsely accused a number of voters of never residing in the state. State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes told The Assembly that he’d review a list of 30 people that Griffin wrongly labeled as “never residents” and will ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot.
Under House Bill 958, actual “never residents”—U.S. citizens who have never resided in the U.S. but whose parent or legal guardian that was last domiciled in North Carolina—would only be able to vote in federal elections. Those wanting to vote in state elections—likely including the falsely accused “never residents”—would need to provide residency documentation containing the address of the last place in the state they lived before leaving the U.S.
