Legislative Watch: Cooper Vetoes Voter ID Bill, Ponders Elections “Reform”

‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the House (and Senate), the lame ducks were stirring…and stirring…and stirring…. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the latest voter ID bill on December 14, and legislative leaders declared they will take override votes beginning today (Monday, December 17).

In his veto message, Cooper said that “the proposed law puts up barriers to voting that will trap honest voters in confusion and discourage them with new rules, some of which haven’t even been written yet.” He added that “the fundamental flaw in the bill is its sinister and cynical origins: It was designed to suppress the rights of minority, poor and elderly voters. The cost of disenfranchising those voters or any citizens is too high, and the risk of taking away the fundamental right to vote is too great, for this law to take effect.”

Legislators also sent to Cooper a collection of election law changes, including the court-ordered restoration of the state elections board to appointment by the governor. In addition, the bill contained an unrelated change which would require that any general election re-do include a new primary as well. That amendment is regarded as an attempt by Republican legislative leaders to enable their party to put forward an alternative to the scandal-stained Mark Harris in the contested Ninth Congressional District race. Cooper indicated that he was weighing the bill, but had not yet reached a conclusion on whether to sign it.

In tentative good news, it appeared as of CIB press time that the House would not take up the Senate-passed legislation to abolish the Clean Water Management and Parks and Recreation trust funds. However, with the lame-duck session still ongoing, stay tuned.

CIB is not scheduled to publish during the Christmas or New Year holiday weeks. A review of final lame-duck session results will be included in the January 7 edition.

Up next, Big Hog Loses — But Not Much >>

To get news like this in your inbox every Monday, please sign up for our Conservation Insider Bulletin newsletter!