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\t<\/p>\nNorth Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the right wing election bill| AP<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
RALEIGH, N.C.\u2014Republicans in North Carolina are among the most disciplined practitioners of the MAGA playbook. Over the past two years, they have used gerrymandering to entrench their power in the North Carolina General Assembly and to transform what had been a 7-to-7 split in the state\u2019s congressional delegation into a 10-4 Republican advantage. They have done this in a purple state where registered Democrats and Republicans are roughly evenly divided.<\/span><\/p>\n These efforts have not gone unchallenged. A broad coalition of African Americans, Latinos, students, Democrats, progressives, Greens, Democratic Socialists, and members of North Carolina\u2019s Communist Party USA clubs have fought ICE actions, helped shelter at-risk immigrants, and consistently raised the voice of opposition against the reactionary agenda of the state Republican Party.<\/span><\/p>\n In June, CPUSA members were among more than 400 protesters who turned out to challenge the latest MAGA-backed attack on voting rights. House Bill 958, innocuously titled \u201cElection Law Changes,\u201d was about to be heard by another committee on its way through the legislative process.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The bill increases voting restrictions, allows greater secrecy around campaign finance rules, bans ranked-choice voting, gives the state auditor expanded power to investigate alleged \u201cfraud,\u201d allows citizens to challenge one another\u2019s right to vote, politicizes the State Board of Elections, and prevents election officials from encouraging people to vote. It also includes additional measures framed by its supporters as protecting election \u201cintegrity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The bill would allow the state auditor to oversee the Board of Elections and interfere with voting rights. Not surprisingly, the current state auditor is a vociferous MAGA supporter.<\/span><\/p>\n On June 16, the bill was heard in the House Committee on Election Laws. A large group of progressives packed the small committee room. Apparently sensing the mood of the crowd, Republican leaders allotted only 50 minutes for discussion of the bill, and the committee chair refused to allow public comment.<\/span><\/p>\n After the meeting, Rep. Allison Dahle, a Wake County Democrat and vice chair of the committee, criticized the process. \u201cThis bill does so much that limiting it to a 50-minute discussion is almost snubbing the people\u2019s voice,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need more time to ask questions and discuss this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n When the committee adjourned, Sam Hayes, a top lawyer for legislative Republicans and now the state elections director, attempted to defend the bill. He was followed out of the committee room by people who had been inside but had been denied the right to speak. Joining other opponents of the bill, the group chanted \u201cshame, shame,\u201d as Hayes was interviewed by the press.<\/span><\/p>\n Marcus Bass, executive director of the North Carolina Black Alliance, said the bill would disproportionately harm younger, poorer, and minority voters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are here to make sure that the individuals behind us don\u2019t just operate in the cover of darkness or in the confines of this concrete building,\u201d Bass said, \u201cbut that their actions are met by voters in the district, by individuals that they\u2019re elected to serve, and by the citizens who deserve free and fair elections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The bill passed out of the Elections Committee along party lines. After the strong public response, Republican leaders sent the bill to the House Rules Committee rather than directly to the House floor. Late in the legislative session, the bill was taken out of committee and rushed onto the Senate floor. Democrats tried to amend the bill, and each amendment was tabled by the Republican MAGA majority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Despite all the efforts by labor and its allies, the bill eventually passed the General Assembly in early August and was promptly vetoed by the Governor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The passage of the bill did not, however, dampen enthusiasm. If anything, passage had the opposite effect.<\/span><\/p>\n Progressive forces, including the CPUSA, have been energized by the underhanded way the General Assembly rushed the bill through at the end of the session, stymying all attempts to block it. Republicans will try to override the governor\u2019s veto when they return after the November elections. So the lesson is clear:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Showing up matters. MAGA opponents must remain vigilant and continue working in broad coalitions with other progressive forces to oppose reactionary efforts to weaken democracy in North Carolina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The fight goes on.<\/span><\/p>\n No paywalls at People\u2019s World<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n We hope you appreciated this article. At\u00a0People\u2019s World, we believe news and information should be free and accessible to all, but we need your help. Our journalism is free of corporate influence and paywalls because we are totally reader-supported. Only you, our readers and supporters, make this possible. If you enjoy reading\u00a0People\u2019s World\u00a0and the stories we bring you, please\u00a0support our work by donating or becoming a monthly sustainer today<\/a>. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n
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