Republicans Gain Control of All North Carolina County Election Boards

Republicans in North Carolina have taken control of the state and all 100 county boards of elections following the 2024 elections, marking a significant shift in election oversight. This change occurred after the state legislature passed Senate Bill 382, which transferred appointment power over the State Board of Elections from Democratic Governor Josh Stein to State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican with ties to election deniers. Boliek appointed a Republican majority to the state board and subsequently installed Republican chairs on every county board, including traditionally Democratic strongholds like Durham. These local boards are responsible for key election administration tasks such as selecting polling locations and setting early voting schedules, raising concerns about potential partisan influence on election integrity. Governor Stein has challenged the law in court, but appellate rulings have allowed the changes to proceed. Critics worry that these moves could impact early voting access and election transparency, while Republicans assert the changes uphold state election laws.