KTS Strategies brings years of experience providing clients in a diverse range of industries with comprehensive policy and advocacy advice before federal, state, and local agencies. In North Carolina, we advise local municipalities, corporate transportation entities, nonprofit organizations, statewide associations, government vendors, and Fortune 500 companies before the North Carolina General Assembly and executive branch.
Below is an update on the activity at the NC General Assembly this week.
Redistricting
On Wednesday, The House and Senate Redistricting and Elections Committees held a joint meeting to hear from the public about the redistricting process, in which new political maps will be drawn for the 2024 elections. The General Assembly is required to draw new legislative and congressional maps every 10 years in North Carolina based on new data from the U.S. Census. The last maps were drawn for the 2022 election cycle by a bipartisan group of experts after a gerrymandering trial, where the state Supreme Court found the maps from 2021 to be unconstitutional. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger was quoted last week saying he hopes to hold votes on redistricting the week of October 9th.
Elections Bill Vetoed
This week, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed S749, No Partisan Advantage in Elections. This bill would make changes to the structure of both state and county boards of elections. The bill would increase the number of members on the State Board of Elections from five to eight. The Senate President Pro Tempore, Speaker of the House, and both the House and Senate minority leaders would each have two appointments. It would also decrease the number of members on each of the 100 county boards of elections from five to four. All appointments would be made by the General Assembly instead of the Governor. To date, Governor Cooper has vetoed 17 bills this session.
