Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue issued a forceful statement on Wednesday condemning the latest efforts by North Carolina Republicans to compromise the integrity and independence of the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
“Republicans have already weakened our elections through voter suppression laws, gerrymandering, photo ID laws, and changes to early voting,” said Blue. “Now they are trying to influence the decisions of our state’s Elections Board yet again. This blatant interference is a direct attack on the principles of fair and transparent elections that our democracy relies upon.”
The North Carolina State Board of Elections recently decided to include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the 2024 ballot as a presidential candidate while denying ballot access to Cornel West.
“The board’s responsibility is to ensure all candidates meet certain criteria, safeguarding the legitimacy of our elections. The reviews the state board have completed in this process show a commitment to fairness and due diligence, not partisanship,” Blue stated. “Even Republican Board member Stacey ‘Four’ Eggers, though he disagreed with the outcome, defended and praised the Democratic board members for their thorough work and dedication. This is not the partisan maneuvering that Republicans want people to believe it is.”
Recent attacks on the three Democratic board members by the independent expenditure group Fair Election Fund further underscore the partisan efforts to discredit the board’s decisions.
“Instead of relentlessly attacking a legitimate decision by our State Board, Republicans should focus on funding our elections and addressing the disenfranchisement and public distrust they have caused in our system,” Blue continued. “The board did its job by engaging in research and investigation and then came to a decision based on their findings. This deliberative process is exactly what we need to ensure fair and transparent elections.”
The NC Senate Democratic Caucus stands united in defending the independence of the State Elections Board and ensuring that the electoral process remains fair and transparent for all North Carolinians.