By Melissa Price Fromm, Guest Columnist
The day Senate Bill 382 was introduced, I raced to the N.C. General Assembly, knowing immediately that this was more than just another piece of legislation. It’s a calculated assault on the foundations of our freedoms.
Cloaked in the language of disaster recovery, but designed to make major changes to our democracy, this bill is a glaring example of a legislative majority more interested in consolidating power than in serving the people of North Carolina. These are not the actions of leaders committed to democracy; they are the maneuvers of opportunists willing to dismantle our governmental institutions for political gain.
Gov. Roy Cooper recognized this attack for what it was and vetoed the bill, standing firm against this blatant power grab. But in a stark display of partisan dominance, Republicans in the N.C. Senate overrode his veto this week.
In doing so, they are stripping powers from the governor, attorney general and other key statewide offices that Democrats won in the recent election. This brazen move confirms what we’ve long suspected: the legislative majorities aren’t interested in respecting the will of the voters. Instead, they’re rewriting the rules to ensure their own dominance, regardless of election outcomes.
Senate Bill 382 strikes at the heart of our democratic processes. By moving the State Board of Elections under the Department of State Auditor and giving the Governor’s appointment authority for the board to the newly elected Republican State Auditor – an unprecedented move unlike any other state – it strips elected officials of their powers and concentrates authority under a Republican-controlled Legislature. This isn’t about improving elections; it’s about manipulating them to maintain power.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Senate Bill 382 also guts the timeline for counting mail-in and provisional ballots, reducing it from nine days to just three. This reckless change disregards the logistical realities election workers face and risks disenfranchising thousands of voters. The goal is clear: prioritize instant election night results over the deliberate and accurate counting of every vote. We know rushed timelines jeopardize the integrity of our elections.
Let’s be honest about what’s driving this. When the Republican Supreme Court candidate lost his election night lead as all votes were tallied, GOP lawmakers didn’t accept the will of the people – they rewrote the rules. This is not reform; it’s sabotage.
The attacks don’t end there. The legislature is targeting the judiciary, attempting to reshape it into a tool of legislative control.
Two trial court seats held by judges who have ruled against the General Assembly are being eliminated, while new ones are created and handed over to legislative appointees. This blatant disregard for judicial independence flies in the face of our separation of powers.
And the cruelty extends beyond our democratic freedoms. Senate Bill 382 locks millions in disaster recovery funds away, delaying aid to western North Carolinians still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. We have many communities where families are still struggling to find permanent housing as winter draws near. They need help now – not when it’s politically convenient for the General Assembly.
These moves follow a familiar playbook. Just as Donald Trump and Pat McCrory have previously sown chaos and confusion in attempts to overturn election results, we see Republican Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin filing more than 300 protests aimed at disenfranchising more than 60,000 voters – including my daughter’s ballot as an absentee voter overseas.
These baseless protests insult the tireless work of bipartisan election officials and
the volunteers who make our elections possible. Moreover, they are trying to intimidate, harass, and disenfranchise voters as they try to change the rules so they can cling to power. This is a nonviolent version of Jan. 6, 2021.
One can’t overstate the danger here. Our founders understood the corrupting influence of unchecked power, and they designed a system of three co-equal branches to safeguard our democracy. Senate Bill 382 dismantles this balance, trampling on the principles that protect our freedoms.
But we will not stay silent. Authoritarianism thrives on complacency, and we must refuse to let this assault go unanswered. Together, we will stand and fight – not just for our democracy, but for the families, the freedoms and the future that North Carolina deserves.
The writer is with ncnewsline.com.