NC judge blocks new law that strips Roy Cooper of power

By EMERY P. DALESIO
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A North Carolina judge is temporarily blocking a new Republican-backed law that strips the incoming Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, of his control over election boards just before he takes office.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens ruled Friday that the risk to free and fair elections justified stopping the law from taking effect this weekend until it could be reviewed more closely.

Stephens plans to review the law Thursday.

Gov.-elect. Roy Cooper sued on Friday to block the law, passed two weeks ago. It ends the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards.

The changes would convert the state elections board from one that governors have controlled into a bipartisan body with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.

County election boards would have two members from each party, rather than the current three members with a majority from the governor’s party.

Cooper will take office Sunday.

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