North Guilford News

North Carolina Senate Republicans are taking a stance against a state Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Bell's emergency order that would mandate changes to the election process ahead of the November vote.

At issue for state Senate Republicans is a rule they say will favor more densely populated areas where Democrats have an advantage, The Center Square reported on July 17. That rule would require counties to open an early voting site for every 20,000 registered voters.

"If we do not take these measures, we risk much longer lines at voting sites and [a] greater possibility of the spread of the coronavirus,” Bell said, The Center Square reported. “These are not acceptable risks in this important election year when we expect turnout to be high.”

Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) said that the Democrat-controlled Board of Elections issuing such changes late on a Friday afternoon should be a warning sign, The Center Square reported. 

"The State Board of Elections must clarify this situation immediately, and also explain how they expect counties to pay for this out-of-left-field change,"  Hise said, The Center Square reported. 

A North Carolina Board of Elections emergency order issued, "late in the afternoon on a Friday," has raised concerns from Republican lawmakers who believe it may be intended by Democrats to sway the election.