RALEIGH — A standalone “Election Integrity Department” launched by the Republican National Committee (RNC) has hired full-time staff in North Carolina and made a series of moves aimed at proposed rules by the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE).
The RNC retained both an in-state election integrity counsel and hired a full-time director to work directly with the committee’s legal team and train volunteers working in elections. That includes North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley, who in addition to leading the state party, is also the RNC’s general counsel.
Among several legal moves the effort has honed in on are pushing the NCSBE to test new electronic poll books and filing a motion to intervene in the lawsuit against Senate Bill 747.
“Electronic poll books” are used to check registrations of voters at in-person voting precincts to assign correct ballots and record the voters’ check-in and acceptance of ballots.
The election integrity efforts also included further investigation into dark money use by two counties, Brunswick and Forsyth, utilizing funds provided by entities banned by legislation enacted by the General Assembly last year.
In addition, two changes regarding poll observer challenges and appeals were made after comments to the NCSBE. Those changes include no longer allowing county election board chairs to unilaterally decide on an observer challenge and the time frame in which observer removal appeals must be filed.
“The RNC and NCGOP are working hand-in-hand to build an unprecedented election integrity operation in North Carolina,” said RNC spokesman Gates McGavick in a statement to North State Journal. “Whether we are fighting for election safeguards in the courtroom or training volunteers in the field, Republicans are committed to ensuring that the Tar Heel State’s elections are fair and honest.”
