(Carolina Journal) – An election-law bill already stalled once after public backlash on Wednesday cleared the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives.
There was significant minority opposition, concerns from members previously seen as open to the bill, and signs that the legislation may be running out of time before lawmakers leave Raleigh.
Election Law Changes, known also as House Bill 958, passed 14-9 after lawmakers adopted another committee substitute and an amendment to the bill. The vote included opposition from Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg.
After the meeting, Cotham expressed concerns that the bill could harm military families, citing ambiguity in the language and the potential for unintended consequences.
Two other members whose votes have been pivotal in past veto override fights, Reps. Carla Cunningham, U-Mecklenburg, and Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe, also voiced concerns during the meeting after previously signaling some openness to the bill.
The bill, rewritten multiple times, would make wide-ranging changes to election administration, ballot counting, voter registration, county and state elections boards, military and overseas voting, campaign finance, and post-election audits.
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