Republican-led states propose more influence on state and local election bodies

76

There’s a growing trend in several states governed by Republican legislators who are seeking to gain more control over state and local election departments, effectively creating new powers. Democrats are expressing concern that these changes could be used to strategically disadvantage left-leaning counties in forthcoming elections.

The proposed changes include mandates for legislative consent in election-related lawsuit settlements and establishing processes to assume control over local election offices.

In North Carolina, a Republican-sponsored proposal currently under review in the General Assembly aims to alter the structure of state and county election boards, proposing that legislators alone have the authority to appoint board members.

In Texas, Republican legislators have recently passed a law that not only abolishes the chief election official in Harris County, a Democrat stronghold encompassing Houston, but also allows the secretary of state—who is appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate, both currently controlled by Republicans—to take over the county’s election office.

Observers in the field of elections stress that public trust is dependent on elections remaining devoid of partisan interference. They are expressing concern about the potential for lawmakers to utilize their newfound powers to gain political advantage.

David Levine, a former local election official from Idaho and now a senior fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy, stated, “We are witnessing states that are passing laws that could introduce new challenges to the conduct of U.S. elections, while there are other ways they could intervene to assist local election officials.”

The frequency of Republican legislatures’ attempts to broaden their control over election procedures has significantly increased since the 2020 presidential election. This rise is largely attributed to the unfounded allegations of widespread fraud by former President Donald Trump. While Republicans justify these changes as necessary for enhancing election procedures, Democrats are criticizing them as tactics for gaining power that could potentially tamper with voting or ballot counting.

The appointments of those who oversee elections at state or local levels typically come from the results of partisan elections or are chosen via a process involving partisan officials. However, those appointed generally strive for a nonpartisan approach to election administration. Since the 2020 presidential election, a few positions have been filled by individuals who rejected the results, leading to questions regarding their objectivity and credibility.

During this period, some Republican-passed legislation has raised additional fears about partisan interference. In 13 states, predominantly under GOP control, legislators have passed roughly 15 bills either broadening their authority over elections or intervening with local election administrators. This information comes from the Voting Rights Lab, which monitors voting-related legislation and supports broader voter access.

In Texas, recent laws endorsed by Republican legislators and signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott have dismantled the election administrator’s office in Harris County, a predominantly Democratic region encompassing Houston with over 2 million voters. These laws also outline a way for the state to gain control of the county’s election office in the future.

North Carolina, where the legislature is Republican-controlled, has seen lawmakers trying to shift authority from the governor, a Democrat, in deciding who serves on election boards. This is after their earlier attempts were rejected by courts and voters who opposed a 2018 constitutional amendment.

Georgia, another state under GOP control, passed a bill in 2021 that granted the State Election Board the power to intervene in county election offices and displace local election officials. Yet, even after a review initiated by Republican lawmakers, the board refrained from taking over the Fulton County office after finding significant improvements.

In Wisconsin, the nonpartisan nature of election administration is under examination as state election commissioners are deciding whether to retain Meagan Wolfe, the state’s nonpartisan election administrator, for another term. They are assessing her chances of surviving confirmation in the Republican-led Senate, despite numerous state reviews indicating no evidence of widespread fraud or misconduct during the state’s 2020 elections.

Reported by Big Big News writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; Paul Weber in Austin, Texas; and Harm Venhuizen in Madison, Wisconsin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Election Control

More about Election Control

• Republican lawmakers seeking greater election control
• The impact of new election laws on US democracy
• Election observers’ concern over partisan manipulation
• The context and implications of Texas’s new election laws
• Past and present attempts of Republicans in North Carolina to control elections