N. Carolina Supreme Court Reverses Key Voting Decisions

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Facts

  • On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court, which gained a Republican majority this year following the election of two GOP justices, reversed previous rulings it had made against voting maps and on other voting-related issues.1
  • Both the redistricting and voter ID opinions were issued in December while Democrats held a 4-3 advantage on the court. With Republicans in charge, the court held hearings in March and reversed its earlier decision by a 5-2 vote.1
  • North Carolina lawmakers are now free to redraw congressional and state legislative maps without regard for their partisanship in time for the 2024 elections when Republicans could pick up seats in the US House. Currently, the GOP holds a nine-seat majority in the 435-member House.2
  • After this ruling, Moore v. Harper, a case the US Supreme Court heard in December that revolves around the power of state legislatures to regulate federal elections, might be dismissed.3
  • The court’s decision also opens the door for a photo identification law to take effect in North Carolina.4
  • In addition, the court overturned a trial court decision that had allowed convicted felons who have not completed probation or parole to vote in the state.5

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Reuters, 3Axios, 4POLITICO, and 5FOX News.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by Daily Kos.Republicans have turned the North Carolina Supreme Court into a political body that has cleared the way for a partisan power grab that will resonate far beyond the state’s borders. Courts have the right to object to partisan gerrymandering and to ensure a guarantee to vote in fair elections, but power-hungry Republicans have decided to end the constitutional separation of powers and allow the general assembly to do as it wishes. This is a dangerous decision.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Breitbart. In opposition to what Democrats are saying, these rulings in fact honor the state constitution’s separation of powers. There’s no way for the court to legally interfere in the legislature’s constitutionally-conveyed power to draw the congressional lines. This is how democracy works, and any complaints are just political sour grapes.